IT wasn’t the result the Swan Hill under-16 boys soccer team were hoping for at the weekend, suffering an 8-1 defeat to Castlemaine Goldfields Gold in their Knockout Cup grand final.
Playing on the unfamiliar synthetic surface at Epsom Huntly Reserve, Swan Hill struggled to adjust, with Castlemaine taking control early with four first half goals.
The Swans proved far more competitive in the second half despite Castlemaine registering another four goals, with Iliya Hussain registering Swan Hill’s only goal.
Swan Hill coach Rob Johnson was proud of his side after the match, with the under-16 boys competition set to resume this Saturday against Spring Gully White at home.
“We went up against a polished and athletic Castlemaine team, who took advantage of every moment on the pitch,” Johnson said.
“Several of our boys found the physicality of the game challenging due to fitness, either because of recent illness or inexperience as young players.
“I’m proud of what the team has been able to achieve so far this year and we’re all looking forward to getting back into our game plan and rebuilding our fitness level for this week’s match against Spring Gully.”
The Swan Hill men’s team suffered a 4-2 loss to Golden City SC on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the defeat, the Swans are still on track to playing finals, with the team sitting in fourth position, four points clear of Border Raiders FC.
While the result wasn’t what Swan Hill were hoping for, it was still a memorable day for striker Conner Brown, who became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, with a seventh minute strike giving him his 92nd goal, surpassing Tyson Fox.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Swan Hill Soccer League however, with the club’s under-14 girls claiming their third win of the debut BASL season with a 3-2 victory over Spring Gully Red in often-spiteful match.
The result lifted Swan Hill to fifth on the table, nine points outside the top four.
