By Sarah Morton
Healesville U9 Redbacks won 2-1 against Mooroolbark U9 Panthers
A glorious sunny spring-like morning in Healesville welcomed the U9 Mooroolbark Panthers to play against the U9 Healesville Redbacks.
The game was all Healesville in the first half who had plenty of chances on goal and the deadlock was finally broken when Billy found the back of the net after a wonderful assist from Arlo.
Mooroolbark however managed to sneak one back early in the second half which balanced the scoresheet but also levelled the competitiveness on the field.
It was a highly contested second half which went in Healesville’s favour after a looping strike from a very composed Levi sealed the win for Healesville.
Final score 2-1.
Healesville U10 whites drew 3-3 against Berwick Blues
Healesville U10 whites played at home this week hosting Berwick Blues.
Healesville played to their strengths and had plenty of great passages of play.
The coach was pleased to see some focused areas at training coming into the games!
A neck and neck tussle provided the assembled onlookers with a nail-biting finish that was unable to be decided on the scoreboard.
The momentum was with Healesville for a larger portion of the match and some brilliant defensive efforts from the Whites’ backline deserved as much applause as the forwards who scored.
A draw was a fitting result in the end as it was a fantastic contest for all involved.
Healesville U12s 5 – 1 Blackburn Dragons
Another week, another game against Blackburn for the Healesville U12s, this time it against the Dragons.
A great start by Healesville saw them take the lead through a great strike from Mika.
However, Blackburn scored after a change in momentum that meant it was tied up at one goal each at half time.
Healesville stepped up the intensity after the break and scored 4 unanswered second half goals. Bodie H (two goals), Tex C and Mac B were the scorers.
The 5-1 final score was a good reflection of the game after a dominant second half team performance.
Healesville U14s won 5-1 against Gideons Warriors
Healesville U14s took the field undermanned this week at their away game against Gideons Warriors. Despite being on crutches Gordon still turned up to support his teammates!
A very physical game saw Healesville lose another player, with yet two more playing hurt, but this didn’t deter anyone.
Laser focused and hungry for the challenge, the U14s managed to take half time 3-1 up.
A reminder to stay focused was echoed by every player, and they added another 2 goals in the second half.
Finishing the game with a 5-1 win in what could have been more with close chances by a few players just going wide.
Healesville U14 Girls Red won 2-1 against Healesville U14 Girls White
Saturday saw a local derby between the Healesville under 14 girls teams, kicking off on a very pleasant sunny morning.
The Red team pressed hard early, but as was to be the case for most of the game, both sides found it difficult to find the back of the net.
Both teams seemed to settle into a rhythm of moving the ball cohesively in attack but then being foiled by the opposition defence.
Around the 12-minute mark a few position changes and a substitution brought Shiloh into the game. A few moments later, this speedy player (true to the comment last week, that she was close to scoring her first goal) did exactly that, with a sliding kick from close in, to put the Red team one up. The Red defence with Ella and Hana and Eloise at central midfield were working hard to protect their goal, which meant keeper Charlee didn’t get a touch.
It was fortunate for the Reds that the White team, which had several shots on goal, couldn’t quite find the target.
The second half saw the Whites press hard which meant the Reds’ defence was often outnumbered. This caused some confusion and the Reds went defensive, which compounded the problem even more.
Once again, the Reds’ defence remained strong and worked tirelessly to protect their goal.
Well done girls!
With around 5 minutes to go and the Reds now gaining composure and ‘pushing up’ the ground in numbers, they were rewarded with a 15-metre kick from Melita to give a 2 – 0 win.
Fantastic work to the team and especially to Hana, who was best on ground, with her impressive defensive craft.
Healesville reserves won 2-1 against Berwick reserves
Healesville reserves got their first win of the season against mid table Berwick.
A fantastic first 45 minutes from the home side saw Healesville take a 2-0 lead.
The first was a goal line scramble turned into their own goal by an unfortunate Berwick player and the second from Lawrence Latin, playing only his second game of the season after returning from 6 months away.
With the wind at their backs in the second half Healesville squandered numerous good chances to take a three-goal lead and soon after Berwick would score to make Healesville sweat for the latter part of the game.
A stoic performance from Chris Sagewood and a wonderful save from Ben Maunder ensured Healesville would bring home the chocolates.
Healesville Senior Men won 2 – 1 against Berwick Seniors
In a bottom of the table clash Healesville got on the board early with a Daniel Tadesse header from a pinpoint Brian Winrow corner.
Berwick came back strong and, after a couple of good saves by Michael “Frankie” Grayson, equalised from a headed corner of their own.
Ben Maunder scored with a cheeky finish against the run of play to ensure Healesville would head into the break leading 2-1.
Berwick, as to be expected, came on strong in the second half.
A resolute defensive performance from a tiring Healesville team, that didn’t allow the away team any clear sights of goal, kept the final score line 2 goals to 1 to the home team.
The win moved Healesville off the bottom of the ladder.
Healesville Senior Women won 4-3 against Yarra Valley
The Healesville Women set off for the Valley Derby this time playing at Yarra Valley’s home ground in Millgrove.
It was a smaller team than usual but strong with might.
The Yarra Valley team came out swinging so much so they knocked Healesville’s striker off the ball in the box and received a penalty in the early stages of the first half.
Ava was able to dust herself off and deliver a cracking penalty goal into the top left corner of the nets to convert the first goal.
Yarra Valley responded with a corner kick deflected off Healesville in the goals to level up and the match followed this back and forward trend until it was 3-3 going into the final term with Kiera and Melita responsible for goal 2 and 3.
It was a tense final term until a Healesville corner kick set up a stray ball for Naomi Hausmann to smash in for the winning goal 4-3 to Healesville.-
