By Sarah Bailey
Healesville U15 Girls Flames 2-1 Berwick U15 Blues
With numbers low, U13s superstar Ava H helped out for the first half and was instrumental in setting up ‘the beast’ Charlee R for the opening goal. Mia K also benefited from the Ava H passing clinic, slotting home the second goal.
Berwick hit back late in the first half, but the game ended in victory for the Flames.
Next Saturday will see a top of-of-the-table derby at Don Road between the Flames and Healesville’s U15 Rebels at 11.20.
Healesville U13 Girls Hearts 3-1 Mooroolbark U13 Phoenix
The Hearts had a well-deserved win against an improving Mooroolbark side, with the opposition keeper making some amazing saves to keep the Healesville tally to just three.
Applying relentless forward pressure, Tilly W scored two.
Ava H worked hard in the middle of the park and scored a cracking goal in the first half.
Healesville Women’s Reds 1-1 Dynamo FC
Welcoming ladder leaders Dynamo FC, the Reds knew from the start they would have their work cut out for them.
A goal to the visitors 10 minutes before half time compounded the pressure.
Healesville regrouped, and fleet-footed 14-year-olds Olive B and Eloise S caught out the Dynamo defence, with Eloise slotting home the equaliser just before the break.
In the second half young goalkeeper Isla C was called into action, as a handball in the box gave Dynamo a penalty.
Isla stood tall and made a heroic lunging save to keep the Reds in the game.
Healesville Men’s Firsts 4-1 Blackburn Bears
Healesville were quick out of the blocks and scored early through Daniel T, but Blackburn would equalise after a clumsy tackle in the box.
The away side came out with higher intensity in the second half, and a quick throw from John-James to the forward-running John C saw the latter finish superbly.
A couple of keeping errors led to an own goal and a John-James strike finding the back of the net as Healesville’s dominance finally paid off.
Missed chances throughout kept the scoreline at a modest 4-1 to the Reds, who on another day would have been close to double figures.
Healesville U15s 2-7 Knox U15 Strikers
At home at Don Road, Healesville was starting with just 9 players due to illness and injury, but Knox sportingly agreed to match player numbers before a second fill-in joined the home team’s ranks. In a free-flowing 10v10 affair the keepers stood out early, saving numerous chances at either end before Max J joined the 2024 scorers list.
A 1-1 tally at half time showed the evenness of the game.
Knox hit hard and fast after the break, piling on a few quick goals before Healesville wrestled the game back to an even contest that culminated in a Pip M goal.
The final score didn’t reflect the quality of the match, which had standouts across the park. Special thanks to Augie C and Ryder H for filling in at the last minute.
Healesville U11 White Wolves 2-3 Croydon Ranges U11 Blue
Croydon’s early efforts were rewarded with two goals that were textbook crosses to the widespread forwards.
With a renewed attitude in the second half, the Wolves went on the attack and managed a goal through the combination of Ardi C and Will B. Sawyer C had an epic game, as did Flynn Mc, who had his moment when he dribbled past a defender and launched a ripping right shot past the keeper.
The Wolves’ tails were well and truly up, and they pressed hard right to the final second.
Healesville U10 Goats 9-4 Mooroolbark U10 Panthers
Away against Mooroolbark, the Goats had a goal-scoring bonanza despite being a player down for the first five minutes.
The game saw hat tricks from Arlo and Patrick and further goals by Ryder, Reggie and Ruben.
Healesville U10 Ninjas 7-5 Knox U10 Strikers
Playing Knox at Don Road, the Ninjas showed the good structure and passing game they’ve been working on all year.
Hayden T brought the hustle up forward, while Max H went to work creating forward drive for the team.
Willis K was lively through midfield all game.
Noah S topped off the hard work with a double hat trick of goals.
