By Sarah Bailey
Healesville U15 Flames 4 – 1 Knox Girls Strikers
Confidence was low for the Healesville side with some late outs against the ladder-leading Knox team that had won 6-1 in the previous meeting.
Knox took full advantage of a flat Healesville team going up 1-0 early in the game.
The goal seemed to spark the Flames into action with Evie T creating multiple chances from the left wing and Mia K solid in goals.
The first half ending 1-0 in favour of the hosts.
The second half saw a determined Healesville side beginning to believe in their own ability and the hard-working Evie T breaking the lines and finishing like a star to even the ledger.
From there on it was one way traffic with Sia McM directing all attacks through Kendi L-T and Evie T giving the Flames a 4-1 win.
Healesville Reds Womens 3 – 1 Dynamo Victoria FC Womens Reserves
Healesville took on the ladder topping Dynamo side. In a first half dominated by the Healesville side, Hannah K smashed home a brilliantly taken free kick, Healesville headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half saw a more determined Dynamo side and a dubious free kick that saw them draw level early in the second term.
The Reds, with no less than seven under 15 players, continued to battle with competition leaders but unfortunately fell short losing 3-1.
Special mentions to Isla C in goals, Evelyn BW in her first senior appearance, and the core group senior reds women who every week set a great example for the young ones coming through.
Healesville U9 Lions 1 – 4 Berwick Blues
After a tight evenly matched first half, an unfortunate own goal by the Lions opened the scoring for the Blues early in the second half.
Two more goals for Berwick before the Lions managed to get on the board, then conceding a final goal.
Healesville Senior Women 2 – 2 Berwick Blues
Healesville midfield Tess scored the opening goal.
The women passed well, and the second goal was slotted in by Kiah. Berwick had a good chance to score but their attempts were shut down by Caroline in goals.
The second half saw a change up in the Berwick formation, putting more pressure on Healesville’s defence leading to their first goal.
Healesville had a good chance to score in the second half with the ball rolling across the box, but they couldn’t quite get a foot on it.
Berwick pressed again and scored their second goal.
Despite several promising runs down the line by Melita and Ava, Healesville couldn’t get around Berwick’s solid defence.
Healesville U12 Rangers 0 – 3 Blackburn New Hope Coyotes
Jono in goals as always stopped too many to count, Ethan was everywhere all the time and the whole team played a very good game.
All the goals came in the last 10 minutes, which was disappointing after a massive effort from the team.
Healesville U10 Ninjas 6 – 1 Blackburn New Hope Jaguars
The Ninjas were depleted on players, but the team turned out a strong performance.
Archie B was an absolute wall at the back, cutting off many opposition plays forward.
Ollie T was lively through the midfield with good play and deft passes, while some of the lads found clever ways to use their heads up forward.
Special shout out to Milos K who’ll sleep well after putting in 4 solid halves (do the maths kids).
Overall a solid 6-1 win at home, curse obliterated.
U10 Goats 5 – 3 Croydon Ranges Blue
The Goats switched up a gear after being 0-2 down at half time against Croydon at Don Road.
Starting the second half full of beans with much better structure the U10 Goats came out firing and took the win.
Healesville Heelers U12 9 – 1 Maroondah United FC
Neither the weather nor the team’s numbers seemed to slow down the co-ordinated Heelers attack on Saturday, with the team on the scoreboard within minutes.
Witnesses were stunned by the A-league curve ball Cooper netted and amused by a brutal ball belted into the net by Mack from close range as the MUFC keeper floundered on the ground. Cooper netted two, Mack four, Ryder and Bodie one each, with a disheartening own goal from MUFC bringing the score to nine goals to their one.
In the second half we rearranged the line-up to give our defence line a taste of the front and centre, which, along with staying focussed in dismal weather, was valuable experience.
Excellent team play and good sportsmanship from every Heeler made the game enjoyable to watch from under the umbrellas!
Healesville U13s 1 – 3 Blackburn New Hope Dragons
In a tight first half Blackburn took the lead. The second half was like the first and once again the away team scored first to make it 2-0.
Healesville showed character and shifted up a gear and scored a well-deserved goal from Louie G to make it 2-1 with five minutes to go.
Healesville huffed and puffed and nearly blew the house down when Manny W almost replicated his goal from two weeks ago running from his own half but being thwarted, this time, by the opposition goalkeeper.
Healesville had one last chance from a corner, but the ball was cleared, and Blackburn sealed the win with a well taken breakaway goal just before the referee blew the full-time whistle.
Healesville Reserves 6 – 1 Melbourne Deaf FC
Healesville continued its great run of form with another convincing victory to leapfrog the opposition into fifth on the ladder.
Goals were scored by Tom E, with a hat-trick and one each for Elvis N, Nick C and Pip M with his first ever goal for the Reserves.
Healesville Firsts 4 – 2 Donvale Firsts
Healesville made it four wins out of five with another dominant display in which they still managed to make it hard work for themselves.
2-0 up inside 15 minutes, through Daniel T and Johnny C’s first of the season, and Healesville were cruising.
Missed chances and a lapse in concentration saw Donvale halve the deficit. 2-1 would be the first half score.
Healesville restored their two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half with a wonderful individual goal by JJ.
A quick break and an unfortunate bounce of the ball helped the away side reduce the deficit to a solitary goal once more.
Stu P made a great save to ensure the home side maintained its one goal lead.
Shortly afterwards Healesville, who continued to play some good football, were rewarded with a Daniel T goal with 10 minutes left to seal the win and take Daniel to outright leader in the golden boot race.
Healesville U8 Tigers 5 – 2 Croydon Ranges
The Tigers had a convincing win, thanks to fill-in Milos K who kicked four of those goals.
The team played very well together.
