A huge thanks to Jellis Craig for presenting this weekend’s match preview.
Eltham are top by a single point, and the side behind them refuses to let up in the chase. The Redbacks women head to Shipston Reserve on Sunday knowing pole position is theirs to hold, not theirs to enjoy.
The second half last Sunday was electric. Bundoora had set the pace on Friday night with a 4-0 demolition job against Ringwood, and the pressure was on. The Redbacks headed into halftime against Melbourne Uni with a slender 1-0 advantage, and netted five unanswered goals from five different scorers to run away with the result and reclaim top spot.
Bayside sit ninth on eleven points, three wins, two draws and eight defeats, with a goal difference of -1. The Argonauts endured a shocking start to the season with five successive defeats, but have won their last two – an impressive 2-1 win over Manningham and an emphatic 7-2 thumping of Ballarat. A month ago, they even took a point off Bundoora in a shock 2-2 draw, and a side that has strengthened with midseason signings cannot be taken lightly.
The Golden Boot race is an intriguing subplot. Eltham’s own Izzy Berks has 19 to her name, trailing Bundoora’s Addison Steiner on 23, and the Transatlantic tussle between the Englishwoman and the American shows no signs of letting up.
The brief is simple enough to state and tough enough to demand full focus. Score, stay tidy, keep the clean-sheet habit going, and walk away with the three points that keep Bundoora at bay for another week.
Kick-off Sunday 2pm, away at Shipston Reserve.
Up the ‘Backs.