DESPITE claiming their first title of the season a fortnight ago, the undefeated Swan Hill men’s soccer team will need to be at their best if they are to continue their winning streak against Golden City Black this weekend, according to men’s coach Tony Di Palma.
Beating sister team Golden City White 4-1 to be crowned Bendigo Amateur Soccer League Division 2 champions, Swan Hill will go into Sunday’s away game favourites.
However, Di Palma was mindful of the threat Golden City Black would pose.
“We’re going to be a little bit understrength this week with a few guys injured and unavailable, so this is a genuine danger game for us,” he said.
“They are a good side and at their best are always competitive. Golden City are a proud club that never just rolls over, especially at home.
“We’ve had a great season so far and the boys have played some incredible soccer at times, but Sunday is a new game, and we need to make sure we turn up with the right mindset and are ready to combat anything they throw at us.”
Swan Hill will be without injured star Blaze Hamilton, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, along with midfielder Stephen Whittaker, who will miss at least another week with a strained calf.
Also missing will be Tom Paddon and Ben Muir-Howie, along with several of the clubs youth players such as Bailey Johnson, Cal Croskery, Jacob Thompson and Marcus Orlando.
Although the week off provided the perfect freshen up for several of Swan Hill’s players, it has also continued the team’s disjointed season, having played just two games over the past seven weeks.
“It’s just another challenge that we have to face this season and to be fair, the boys have taken it largely in their stride,” Di Palma said.
“We just need to make sure we start well on Sunday, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a concern coming off the bye and having had limited game time, but it’s also out of our control and something that we can’t change.”
Also on Sunday, with an undermanned Swan Hill youth boys’ team host Shepparton South SC at Ken Harrison Reserve, while the women’s team will travel to play Kyneton District in a must-win game for both clubs.
With just three games remaining, a Super Cup appearance is still a very real possibility for Swan Hill’s women’s team, despite sitting five points outside the top six.
But that will all depend on the result of Sunday’s match against the fifth-placed Rangers, who will also be looking to lock away a finals spot, according to Swan Hill women’s captain Sarah Scott.
“We’re under no illusions that it will be a challenge, but we know if we play at our best then we’re good enough to go down there and get a result,” Scott said.
“I think we were all disappointed with last week’s (9-0 loss to Golden City) but at the same time the final scores weren’t a true reflection on the game.
“We need to use that as motivation now, we have a point to prove after last Sunday.
“When we work hard both ways, apply pressure and do all the basics right, we can be a really dangerous team, as we’ve showed at times this season.
“The challenge for us as a group is to replicate that effort every week.”
Swan Hill are expected to welcome midfielders Heidi Annand and Skye Bennett to their team, along with Hannah McCann, but will lose centre back Abbey Houlihan.
Swan Hill’s under-16 girls will host Kyneton District at Ken Harrison Reserve from 11am on Saturday, when they will aim for their sixth win of the season ahead of the team’s inaugural finals series.
The under-16 boys will follow with their home match against Castlemaine Gold as they seek their first win of the season.
