THE Swan Hill men’s and women’s Bendigo Amateur Soccer League teams will play their first home double header of the season this Sunday, with both sides looking to bounce back from disappointing losses last Saturday.
Swan Hill’s League Cup campaign came to an end at the penultimate hurdle, with the men’s side suffering a 9-0 loss to League 1 team Eaglehawk FC in last weekend’s semi-final.
The Swans were faced with an uphill battle against one of the leading contenders for this year’s BASL Division 1 title, with Swan Hill now able to focus their attention on defending their Division 2 title, beginning with Sunday’s home match against Golden City SC.
With just three points separating the Rams (second) and Swans (third), this Sunday’s match will be hotly contested, with Swan Hill needing to win In order to keep pace with ladder leaders Strathfieldsaye Colts United in the battle for this year’s championship.
Cooper Fox, who celebrated his 200th match for Swan Hill in last weekend’s loss, will be one of the team’s key players, along with Conner Brown, who sits third on the league goal kicking tally with four goals for the season.
Prior to the men’s game, Swan Hill’s women’s team will take the pitch at the Ken Harrison Reserve as they try to avenge their 6-0 defeat to Castlemaine Goldfields Green, when they host sister team Castlemaine Goldfields Gold.
It was a disappointing result for the improving Swans according to women’s assistant coach Emma Pitts, with her team unable to replicate their good recent form against the division 2 ladder leaders.
“We just didn’t bring the heat or intensity that we did the week prior against Spring Gully unfortunately,” Pitts told The Guardian this week.
“They (Castlemaine) are obviously a good side, it’s why they’ve been the team to beat since round 1 really, but we know we can play much better than we did too.
“We just weren’t hard enough defensively, we didn’t want the ball like they did and they really showed us the standard that we need to reach.
“With that said, there were still positives to take from the match and the biggest one is that we’ll only have to wait seven days to get another crack at them, albeit a slightly different team.”
Such is the anomalies within the division 2 competition, Castlemaine’s second team will feature many of the their first team’s better players, with Allison Jacobs, Grace Shooter, Kasey Sparks and Jule Wunderlich all a chance to make the trip north.
Swan Hill on the other hand will also have a vastly different line-up, with Charley Baskin, Annabelle Fleming, Judaya Majur and Monique Pugliese all available after missing last Sunday, with midfielders Heidi Annand and Skye Bennett the only confirmed outs for the home side.
“We had a good look at them last weekend and the way they structure up and move the ball and we’ll be much better prepared for Sunday,” Pitts said.
“We know we’re better than last weekend and I think the girls were a bit stung by that loss.
“Although the result wasn’t what we wanted, it wasn’t all bad though, we just need to play a little bit smarter and be prepared to be a bit more physical and not be worked off the ball so easily.
“If we can rectify those areas as well as a few others, which we can, then I have no reason to think we can’t get a result.”
Also in action at home this weekend will be Swan Hill’s under-16 boys team, with the looking for their second win of the season when they host Spring Gully White on Saturday morning.
Swan Hill will go in as favourites with Spring Gully yet to register a win from their three matches this season, with the Swans securing a win and a draw from their two games, with Oliver Miliado (three goals) and Kaidyn Tants (two goals) leading the way.
Also in action will be Swan Hill’s under-14 boys team, who will travel to play Castlemaine Goldfields Green Saturday morning in a top of the ladder clash between the two undefeated sides.
Both teams are heavy scorers, with Swan Hill’s 19 goals from three games bettered only by Castlemaine’s 20, but it’s in defence where the young Swans will need to improve, having allowed five goals this season compared to their opponents one.
The Swan Hill women’s team will host Castlemaine Goldfields Gold at the Ken Harrison Reserve from 11am on Sunday morning, with Swan Hill’s men’s match against Golden City SC to follow from 1pm.
