IT will be a season defining day for the Swan Hill Soccer League this Sunday, with the clubs men’s and women’s teams’ finals hopes set to rise or fall depending on their results.
Both teams will be on the road, with the men’s team to meet rivals Border Raiders FC at Moama, while Swan Hill’s women’s team will play second placed Kyneton District Maroon in Kyneton.
There will be little margin for error for the Swans men’s team, who currently sit third on the table, but just two points clear of Golden City (fourth) and Border Raiders (fifth).
With the men’s Division 2 competition having just a top four this season, a win is a must this Sunday according to Swan Hill coach Tony Di Palma, who spoke with The Guardian in the lead up to the big game.
“It’s a hugely important game for our boys this week, as they are going to be most weeks from now on with how even the competition is this season,” Di Palma said.
“They (Border Raiders FC) are always a difficult opponent, especially on their home pitch and we will need to make sure we turn up with the mindset that we have the past few weeks and are prepared to take the game on.”
Despite losing 2-0 to top side Spring Gully United last weekend, the Swans should go in confident of returning to the winners list with Van Bao Nguyen, Chris Herman and Joseph Costa all expected to be available for Sunday’s must-win match.
Matteo Marchiori (groin) is expected to be the only omission from last week’s team, despite Noah Drummond (ankle) and Marcus Orlando (cut foot) both spending significant periods of the loss on the side lines.
With a close to full strength side to choose from, Di Palma is expecting a strong and determined performance from his players.
“It was a really brutal game (against Spring Gully) and in many ways it probably caught us off guard a little bit,” Di Palma said.
“The conditions weren’t easy either and they certainly weren’t in our favour, but that’s no excuse either; we were just outplayed on the day.
“I thought our boys were outstanding though, especially in the first half and if we bring that same level of effort and endeavour then we’ll be really well placed to bring home the three points.”
Swan Hill’s women’s team will be in action on Sunday when they travel to Kyneton to play an in-form Rangers outfit.
It will be the second week in a row where the Swans will have played Kyneton after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Rangers’ second side last weekend, with a slow start ultimately to blame for the result.
With Swan Hill sitting just two points clear of rivals Spring Gully United in the fight for a spot in the top six, a good start is a must on Sunday according to women’s assistant coach Emma Pitts.
“Our starts have been pretty poor in the past couple of weeks and we can’t afford to be slow out of the blocks this time,” Pitts said.
“We don’t want to be chasing the game in the second half, especially on the road.
“We’re a better team than what the results might say in recent weeks too despite only just being beaten by one goal against some really good teams.
“We’ve come a long way as a team, but I know there’s further improvement within us.
“I think a lot of it is about believing we are a good side now and understanding that we are a better team than we were at the start of this season, or last year or the year before that.
“We’re at a stage now where we know we’re competitive, we know we can match it with the better teams, now it’s about believing we can beat them.”
Pitts was impressed by the performance of Abbey Houlihan when moved forward late in the match last Sunday, with the defender potentially in line for a change of role on Sunday.
The Swans will be without several key players from last Sunday’s team, with Judaya Majur, Luciana Senes, Sarah Feltrin and Alycia Anderson all expected to miss, while winger Skye Bennett and striker Kayla Chrisp are a chance to return.
Also in action this weekend will be Swan Hill’s under 14 boys team, who will host Epsom Scorpions from 11.30am, with Swan Hill’s under 16 boys team to follow from 1pm when they host Golden City SC.
Both games will be played at the Ken Harrison Reserve on Saturday.
