By Sarah Bailey
Healesville Women’s Firsts 5-1 Maroondah United Emeralds
The Firsts have the championship in the bag, but they wanted to see out the season playing to the same high standards as they’ve done all year.
This match was no different.
After a deflection from Tess’s pressure got the party started, Healesville ran out 5-1 winners.
Tess scored four, but the goal of the day was from Kiah C – super through ball, collects on the run and slots bottom corner.
Beautiful!
Healesville Men’s Reserves 4-2 Mooroolbark Cavaliers
In the Don Road sunshine, Healesville were continuing their push for a 3rd-place finish against a low-ranked Mooroolbark.
Missing a number of players, the home side were relying on youth to help that push, and four U15s joined the team.
Older statesman Lindsay M would win the game for the Reds with a hat trick, and Oshane D scored the fourth.
Asha S, Pip M, Gordon K and Will W were the outstanding younger players for Healesville.
Healesville Firsts 1-1 Lilydale Eagles Ralph Alps
The Reds were looking to end the season on a high with a 4th-place finish in their sights.
Missing six regulars against a determined rival neighbour, the team knew this would be a tough game.
Healesville looked flat from the start and conceded from a great strike from outside the box.
The Reds lifted the intensity after the break and scored with a swerving effort from outside the box from Johnny C.
Healesville finished the second half of the season undefeated, but it was a disappointing end to a great back half of the year.
Josh L and Josh B were Healesville’s best on the day.
Healesville U12 Heelers 5-2 Northern Eagles
The Heelers gathered at the beautifully situated Wattle Glen ground to face the Northern Eagles in full force – it was great to have Pepe back after a few weeks off with a leg injury, and to have two subs chafing at the bit to get back on.
The Heelers opened the scoring in under a minute with a strike from Jake, who followed that minutes later with a header into the net off a beautiful corner kick from Cooper.
Yuuki showed his timing finesse with a tidy kick gleaned from a chaotic battle in the goal square, and Cooper was on fire with two goals including a Messi run that got around at least four defenders and left the goalie stranded.
Bodie played a crucial role in defence in the first half, foiling several counterattacks from the Eagles.
The entire team worked together to contain a much-improved Eagles side and maintain second place on the ladder.
Healesville U11 White Wolves 4-1 Berwick Blues
On a spring-like morning, Healesville hosted Berwick at Don Road. The tone of the match was set early and Ardi C delivered through some intense pressure and ball movement out of the centre.
The Blues dug in and an arm wrestle ensued for the next goal. Healesville strived to get beyond the Berwick keeper’s stoic efforts.
Healesville’s defence worked well to thwart the press from the Blues forwards.
Robbie K was next to register a goal, clearing most of the forward half to hit the back of the net with his trademark power.
The centres and strikers had their turn at showcasing syncronistic ball movement, with some flair by Ardi C and Flynn Mc to keep the onlookers entertained.
Flynn Mc was on the end of the next crossed-in ball to comfortably place it into the net.
Conceding a goal late, the Wolves went on the charge again and Ardi C scored another goal to cap off a brilliant game.
