By Sarah Bailey
Healesville Women Firsts 5 – 4 Monbulk Rangers
Healesville ladies kept the dream of a league title alive with a 5-4 win at home vs Monbulk.
Caroline scoring a much-needed goal at the end of the first half to leave the score at 1-1.
Healesville then took control with four unanswered goals.
Then in a mad last eight minutes Monbulk put a little fear into the home side scoring three quick goals.
The ladies march on.
Healesville Firsts 2 – 2 Dandenong Red Fury Phoenix
A strong opening from Healesville was dampened by a strange offside ruling.
Things almost got worse for Healesville as DRF were awarded a penalty, but the spot kick was put wide. Daniel T put Healesville 2-0 in front but missed chances from the home side came back to bite.
A goal on the stroke of half-time gave renewed confidence to DRF.
A second goal looked likely from the away side, and it came with 15 minutes left to play.
Healesville responded but Daniel T hit the cross bar and James O hit the post.
The game finished two goals each.
Healesville Reserves 7 – 3 Blackburn New Hope Fifths
Healesville started strongly and took an early 2-0 lead with both goals coming from John-James.
The home side took their foot off the pedal and two sloppy goals conceded saw the teams go into the break at 2-2.
A spray from Coach (and keeper) Nick C saw Healesville come out with purpose and a five goal second half display, with two more goals from John-James and one each for Jonny H, Lindsay M and a first for the club from Joe M meant Healesville finished with a comfortable 7-3 score line.
Healesville U13s 0 – 2 Berwick United
Healesville took on a Berwick side that last time around dominated from start to finish.
This is how the first 10 minutes of this game would play out and it looked like it would be a long day for the home side.
Berwick took a deserved lead, but this seemed to spur the Reds on.
A missed penalty and a great chance that missed the target would, and should, have seen Healesville going into the break on level terms. Healesville found an even higher gear in the second half but couldn’t quite make their dominance pay.
With one final push for an equaliser, Healesville left themselves short at the back and a last-minute Berwick goal would seal the win for the away side.
An injured Manny W was excellent in goal and Ryder H, Cooper W and Iggy C had great games.
Healesville U10 Ninjas 5 – 3 Bewick Spirit
This week the Under 10 Ninjas faced the very evenly matched BCSC Spirit at home.
Milos K lead the team will with great vision across the back line, partnered with Archie B who was again strong in the contest, cutting off many forward plays by the opposition.
The forward combination of Jacob V, Noah S and Leroy P had shades of Barcelona’s Messi, Suarez and Neymar, with deft passing creating chances for the team.
The Ninjas kept their noses in front all day for 5-3 win.
Healesville U12 Rangers 0 – 6 Healesville Heelers
It was Healesville Rangers vs Healesville Heelers at home.
Heelers were impressed with the Rangers strong defences and struggled to get an early goal, but persistent attacks began to pay off with powerful strikes from Cooper (2), MVP Bodie (1), Mack (2) and a ripper from Jesse in the closing minutes.
Final result 0-6, with some excellent teamwork from both teams.
Healesville Hearts U13 Girls 1 – 2 Waverley FC
The Hearts travelled to Waverley to face the second on the ladder team who were much bigger and physical.
Not to be outdone, the Hearts fought valiantly all day and had the better of the possession and chances, but for the second week in a row couldn’t quite get the reward they deserved on the score sheet. Stella C scored her first game for the season. Isla H was a rockstar in defence as always.
Ava H and Georgia C battled hard all day in the midfield.
