The Colts came out firing in the first half, while the Border Raiders were unable to create many chances inside the first 45 minutes. Strathfieldsaye went up 1-0 early.
Proceedings got more heated with a few exchanges from players nearing the half-time whistle, culminating in five yellow cards being handed out between the two teams: three for the Border Raiders and two for the Colts.
The second half saw the script flipped. The prior incidents lit a fire under the Border Raiders, who dominated the second half. Their midfielders worked hard to create chances for their forwards.
The Border Raiders were hampered by injuries during the contest, with the side having no eligible substitutes for the final 10 minutes of play.
Fortunately, that didn’t matter.
Border Raiders striker Herman returned to the field for crunch time following a head knock earlier in the second half.
He was then gifted a through-ball by the Boarder Raiders’ midfield, which saw him one-on-one with the Colts’ keeper.
Herman then did what a striker does best, burying the ball in the back of the net in the 86th minute to equalise against the second-placed Colts.
While it may not have been a win for the Border Raiders, salvaging a draw against a formidable opponent is still something to savour.
“Yes, it was a draw, but the fact that we were playing a side who are higher on the table than us, which dominated parts of the game, for us to come back from a goal down was a great effort from the team,” Border Raiders coach Rish Kothari said.
“It was a brilliant effort from the guys to keep fighting and showing persistence, and we were rewarded with an 86th-minute equaliser.
Coach Kothari credited his players’ ability to adhere to the game plan and willingness to play as a team as the keys to their performance.
“Our team stuck to the plan discussed at half-time, which was the most important thing,” he said.
“You could see the boys wanted to fight for one another; they wanted to get in there and make sure to show them (the Colts) that we are as good if not better.”
The Border Raiders will face another formidable opponent in round nine, battling table toppers White Hills at Ken Harrison Reserve.
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