Decision takes Border Raiders out of cup final

By Bransen Gibson

Jul 21, 2022

On the run: Jasmin Malham, left, and Rebecca Douglas in action for the Moama Echuca Border Raiders earlier this season. Photo: Bransen Gibson

The Moama Echuca Border Raiders will no longer take part in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League’s Division 2 Women’s League Cup final after a decision from the league to overturn a result.

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The Border Raiders looked set to finish atop their group and advance to the League Cup final after a thumping 6-1 win over Castlemaine Goldfields FC and, just as crucially, Kyneton District’s 2-1 loss to La Trobe University.

But the League has overturned La Trobe’s victory after an appeal from Kyneton, after it was found that they fielded ineligible players.

The decision means Kyneton are instead awarded the three points instead of La Trobe, an adjustment that sees them move ahead of Moama Echuca and into first place in their pool.

Kyneton will now go on to face Tatura in the final, who finished atop the League Cup’s other group, on Sunday, August 7.

Border Raiders coach Pat Hicks said it was an unfortunate way for the team’s cup run to come to an end, but said he could not blame Kyneton for their appeal.

“I am disappointed, the girls have put in a great run in the cup,” Hicks said.

“They have played some really good football and to be pipped at the post by an administrative decision is disappointing and a bitter pill to swallow.

“But I can’t say that if we weren’t in the same position as Kyneton that we wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

Despite the let-down of no longer getting to play in the final, Hicks said there were still plenty of positives from the side’s cup run.

“It was still very successful,” Hicks said.

“Our only loss was a forfeit, which was a game scheduled on Mother’s Day at 4pm in Kyneton, so most of the team couldn’t make it, for obvious reasons — so we still consider ourselves to have a 100 per cent record result wise.

“I think it was a good performance from the team against Castlemaine, especially in the first 20 minutes or so. We played some good football. We stuck to the game plan that we set out with.”

While the decision from the league was justified, it will certainly add some spice to Moama Echuca’s next game.

The Border Raiders have a bye this weekend, but they are set to face Kyneton in their next regular season match on Sunday, July 31, with the League Cup decision surely to still be fresh in their memory.

Kyneton sits in top spot on the division two women’s regular season ladder, five points ahead of the Border Raiders in third with four rounds left to play.