The Swan Hill men’s soccer team will be out to return to the winners list when they host Deniliquin Wanderers in a rematch of last year’s grand final.
The men’s team will return home after two weeks on the road, with their last win coming three weeks ago in a 3-all draw against La Trobe University Black last weekend, which followed a 4-2 loss to Golden City SC.
While the Swans will go in as favourites, the Wanderers are expected to put up stern competition, having won their last two matches against Golden City Rams and Golden City SC, with the latter having beaten Swan Hill on two occasions this season.
It will be a very different-looking Swan Hill team to the one which defeated Deniliquin 3-1 back in round 7, with key players Stephen Whittaker, Jacob Thompson, Gareth Johansen and Jake Cameron all missing last week.
While it’s hoped Whittaker, Johansen and Cameron may be in line to return, the Swans will still be hoping for big games from skipper Cooper Fox and striker Conner Brown, along with defenders George Hardwell and Anyueer Buol.
Also in action over the weekend will be the under 16 boys team, who will play Spring Gully Red at Stanley Avenue on Saturday morning.
The Swans’ 1-0 win over Spring Gully White saw them climb to second on the ladder, with only the undefeated Castlemaine Goldfields Gold above them as they head towards the teams first A grade finals campaign in just their second year.
Sonny Tucker was the lone goal scorer for the Swans last Saturday, with his match-winning strike coming in the dying minutes to snatch the win.
The three points unfortunately came at a cost for Swan Hill, with goal keeper Oliver Cameron suffering a leg injury, leaving him in doubt to play in Saturday’s must-win match.
It will be the first time this season the two teams have played, following Spring Gully Reds’ forfeit to Swan Hill back in round 9.
While the junior boys side will travel to Bendigo for Saturday’s round of fixtures, the under 14 girls side will be travelling further south to Castlemaine, where they will play third placed Castlemaine Goldfields FC Gold.
Saturday’s match will follow last Saturday’s 1-all draw with Castlemaine’s sister team Goldfields Green at home, with the Swans needing to win their remaining games, and have other results go their way as they seek to play finals in their first season in the competition.
