THE Swan Hill men’s soccer team will be hoping to move one step closer to claiming their second Bendigo Amateur Soccer League championship in three years.
The Swans host second-placed Strathfieldsaye Colts United FC on Saturday at Ken Harrison Reserve.
Yet to taste defeat this season, the Swans are nine points clear of Colts with just five games to play, meaning a win would almost put a top-of-the-table finish beyond doubt.
However, the home side are expected to enter the clash underdone, having not played for 27 days due to consecutive forfeits from La Trobe University Black and the Border Raiders, leaving them without match practice.
Compounding Swan Hill’s woes will be the loss of Blaze Hamilton, who will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against Golden City.
Hamilton’s absence couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Swans.
The defender’s absence is set to leave a massive hole against Strathfieldsaye, who have proven themselves to be one of the division’s most prolific scorers, having Thomas Christie (10 goals) and Zach Mills (nine goals) in the top five scorers this season.
While Swan Hill will need to be aware of the potential threat posed by Christie and Mills, they are also capable of scoring at will, with Conner Brown (12 goals) and Cooper Fox (eight goals) also among the competition’s leading goalscorers.
All five Swan Hill BASL teams will be in action this weekend.
The under-16 girls’ side on Saturday host Spring Gully Warriors in a match that looks likely to decide their finals fate.
Swan Hill’s youth boys’ team will on Sunday play host to Strathdale SC at Ken Harrison Reserve.
The under-16 boys’ team will on Saturday play Epsom Scorpions in Bendigo.
Swan Hill’s women’s team will also be on the road, facing off against second-placed Castlemaine Goldfields FC at Castlemaine on Sunday.
