The team won’t be the only side in action at home this weekend, with the women’s team also set to play their round 12 match against La Trobe University on Sunday in a double-header at Ken Harrison Reserve.
The men qualified for the decider thanks to a thumping win over La Trobe University at Tatura last Sunday, with captain Cooper Fox netting an astonishing five goals in a day out for the Swans.
Swan Hill now hold an unassailable four point lead over Deniliquin on top of the League Cup ladder and cannot be dropped from the top two – with the top two sides set to face off on Sunday week.
The Swan Hill women’s team came desperately close to breaking their winning drought last Sunday, losing 1-0 to Epsom in a hard-fought performance. After a scoreless first half, the Swans appeared to break the deadlock first in the second half, with Abbey Houlihan beating the Epsom goalkeeper – only for the goal to be disallowed by a late offside call.
Heartbreak ensued for Swan Hill moments later, as Epsom scored through Katrina Alford in the 47th minute.
The Swans weren’t finished with, however, as Houlihan and Malyna Tants pressed forward hard in an attempt to find the required equaliser. Tants was unlucky not to be given a penalty after being brought down in the box in the dying moments. Houlihan was among Swan Hill’s better players, along with Tants, goalkeeper Tayla Baird and defender Sarah Hamlyn-Harris.
The Swan Hill under-16 boys capped off a positive weekend for the club with a 3-0 win over Golden City Eaglehawk last Saturday. The Swans dominated the second half, scoring all three goals after the break, with Alexander Olandezos (46th minute), Faizal Amran (62th) and Jacob Thompson (68th) taking the game away from the home side in a strong performance.
The boys will play Spring Gully Rovers at Epsom Huntly Reserve.
The women’s team host La Trobe University on Sunday from noon, with the men’s game against the Shepparton Jaguars to follow at 2pm.
