The Bendigo Amateur Soccer League 2 campaign for the Echuca Moama Border Raiders men’s side has come to an end in the first week of the finals.
Finishing fifth on the table, the Border Raiders headed into what would have been expected to be a tight match-up against Golden City White, the two sides ending the year level on points with Golden City’s superior goal difference earning it a higher place on the ladder.
The two sides traded wins in the regular season with the Border Raiders prevailing 3-2 in round five, while Golden City also had a one-goal win, 2-1, in round 10.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the first half, with both sides finding success on their attacking raids, the scores locked at 1-1 heading into half-time.
Unfortunately for Echuca Moama, it was Golden City who executed better after the break, White’s two second-half goals ensuring them a place in the semi-final and eliminating the locals from the competition.
The league’s second top scorer Joel Fataolisia finished his season how he started it, making the breakthrough for the Border Raiders, while Golden City advanced courtesy of goals from Htee Moo Htoo, Sean Tomlinson and Harrison Morley.
Women’s
In the women’s competition, the Border Raiders now know that they will take on Kyneton District in the semi-final after a top-place finish earned the locals a bye in week one of the finals.
In a surprising result in the fourth versus fifth final, Kyneton thrashed Strathfieldsaye 10-0 to romp into the semi-final.
The Border Raiders and Kyneton fought in two very different regular season meetings, with Echuca Moama taking the first encounter in a cagey 1-0 affair, while Kyneton turned things around in the return fixture scoring a decisive 6-0 victory.
The semi-final will be held at North Bendigo Recreation Reserve at 12.30pm on Sunday.
Juniors
Under-14A
A perfect 12-0-0 in the regular season, the under-14A Border Raiders are the first team into the grand final, defeating Castlemaine Gold 6-0 in the qualifying final.
Divish Gounder was at the double for the Border Raiders, while Finn and Nate Murphy, Tommy Quirk and Harry Sly also got their names on the scoresheet.
The locals now await the winner of Castlemaine Gold and Strathdale City, Echuca Moama going in as big favourites against either opponent.
The Border Raiders put up mouth-watering numbers in the regular season, scoring 108 goals and conceding just nine for an astronomical plus-99 goal difference.
The grand final will be held on Saturday, September 14, at 9.30am with the venue to be finalised after next week’s preliminary final.
Under-14B
Finishing second on the ladder the Border Raiders Vikings had a week off to start the finals and will take on Golden City Merinos on Saturday.
Merinos progressed 7-3 over Strathdale Phoenix in the elimination final.
The two sides split the season series, with Merinos grabbing a 2-1 win back in round two, while the Border Raiders earned a 1-0 scoreline in round 13.
The game is scheduled for 10am on Saturday at Jack Eddy Oval in Moama.
Under-12s
The Border Raiders under-12 girls side also benefited from a bye after finishing second on the ladder and is now preparing for a semi-final clash with Golden City Merinos.
Merinos ousted the Spring Gully Red Flames 5-1 in their elimination final and will now face the Border Raiders at noon on Saturday at Jack Eddy Oval.
Merinos earned a 7-2 win over Echuca Moama in their first meeting, but the Border Raiders had their revenge in the final round of the season, prevailing 2-0.