Playing on a bright, crisp winter solstice day, Healesville teams had some auspicious results.
Healesville Senior Men 2-2 Gideon’s Warriors
First on the ladder played second to determine who would be on top halfway through the season.
It was a nervy start by both teams with not much fluidity on a tacky ground.
Healesville drew first blood with a wonderful strike by Daniel T 15 minutes into the contest.
A quick throw by Johnny C put JJ through, and his exquisite lob had the home side in raptures 10 minutes later.
A fortuitous ricochet gave Gideon’s a half chance that was taken well from outside the box to see the teams go into half time 2-1.
After the break Gideon’s came out on the front foot and ramped up the pressure.
They gained parity with around 15 minutes to play, and it looked like there would only be one winner from there.
The home side had other ideas, though, and lifted the shackles as the game became frantic and open as both sides pushed for a winner.
A great piece of skill and a through ball by Brian W put JJ in on goal, and he finished sublimely, but for the second week in a row a contentious flag by the assistant referee saw the goal disallowed for offside.
Healesville then had keeper Stu P to thank after an error at the back almost cost Healesville at the death.
In the end, a draw was probably a fair reflection of the game.
It means that Healesville remain on top of the ladder, by a solitary point, at the season’s halfway mark.
Healesville U16s 6-2 Knox
With energy high, Healesville’s pressure was immense from the first whistle, and this resulted in some quick goals.
Aidan C and Hamish M scored two goals each, putting Healesville 4-0 up within the first 12 minutes.
Charlie J scored his second for the club late in the half before Knox scored a worldie of a goal.
Another goal from Knox late in the second half was matched when Aidan C scored again to complete his hat-trick.
A great display from every player saw the team keep their spot at the top of the ladder.
Healesville U14s 4-3 Yarra Valley
On a cold morning at Don Road, Healesville made a slow start and Yarra Valley struck first blood.
A goal from Pepe G got the boys fired up, though, and they got right into the contest.
Louis G, back from a long injury, added to the tally, but Valley continued to fight.
It was 2-2 at half time.
Valley came out firing in the second half, but a tenacious Healesville defence only let a single goal through.
With not long left in the match, brothers Louis and Pepe each scored another to bring home a win against a tough opposition, topping off a series of great performances from the whole squad despite illness.
Healesville U12s 8-1 Berwick
The mighty U12 girls put in a great team effort against Berwick to secure a thumping win.
Goal scorers included Hannah, Sienna (who scored a ripper lobbing the keeper), Rosie, Lexie and Tilly (who scored a hat-trick).
Healesville U12 White Wolves 4-1 Blackburn North
The Wolves dominated the second half and most of the first to seal their third straight victory.
Two goals from Ardi C, and a goal each from Flynn Mc and Alex P were supported by some great play by Evan K, Zach C, Flynn F and Austin A.
It was a tightly played game by the Wolves, who are in a very competitive position approaching the season’s halfway mark.
Healesville U11 Ninjas 4-1 Berwick CSC Thunder
On a beautiful morning away in Berwick, both sides started slow with a bit of eyeing off.
Max scored the first goal for the Ninjas with a lovely low kick into the bottom left corner.
The team played with discipline, with Hayden and later Jacob cleaning up between the back line and midfield.
The forwards caused problems for Berwick, with good runs and plays in front of goal.
Leroy worked hard as always, Leo, Max and Percy pressed high, and Leo scored the Ninjas’ second before half time.
Jaxson kept a clean sheet as goalie in the first half.
In the second, he handed the gloves to Felix, who had an excellent game despite one chaos ball that found its way through.
Berwick started the second half with a lot of energy, but the Ninjas kept their chins up, and it didn’t take long before Max sealed the deal for the team.
Kaspar put in some extra effort in the last minutes, Ollie worked really hard all game and Jaxson kept the backline together most of the time.
Healesville U8 White Pumas 0-0 Lilydale White
Over 150 years ago the most famous draw in chess was played out in the city of Vienna between Hamppe and Meitner.
Christened ‘The Immortal Draw’, the match is still revered in the chess world.
It’s hard to say if the draw that played out in sunny seven-degree conditions in Mount Evelyn will carry such historic magnitude, but quality soccer was on tap from both sides.
Recently returned from injury, Jim was a brick wall in goal in the first half.
Campbell displayed an array of futsal-like skills, with stepovers and drives through the midfield.
August and Tom, fast becoming a rock-solid defensive combination, repelled attack after attack.
Through the midfield and towards goal, Fletcher, Otto, Jessie, Will and James (before his second-half heroics in goal) displayed some of the finest hustle seen all season.
In particular, a solo effort from Otto in which the seas parted and he drove through would have been a goal if not for the save of a lifetime by the opposite number.
Other results:
Healesville Senior Women 0-5 Berwick
Healesville U12 Diamonds 0-5 Berwick
Healesville U12 Panthers 2-3 Yarra Valley
