Kyneton District Soccer Club’s Womens team made it back-to-back cup wins, defeating Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 2:1 in Bendigo on Sunday.
The sun was shining on the Kyneton Rangers in a physical battle for League Cup at Truscott Reserve, North Bendigo, with both teams determined to win.
The close rivals battled all season, but coach Ron Cole was determined to smoke out the rivals’ weaknesses using team tactics and strong precise passing.
Team captain Kim Dickins’ leadership was calm and collected, establishing Kyneton’s dominance through skill and a shared workload between Joanne, Madeleine, Esther and Monica around the mid-field, paying off in the first half with a free-kick being called in the box.
Sian Hooppell didn’t disappoint, despite visible nerves on her approach, the pressure was on. Sian let her boot do the talking, rocketing past the keeper to find the back of the net. Mum Simone was ecstatic, running from mid-field defence to congratulate her daughter with other teammates, a beautiful moment in sports.
There was no time to enjoy the moment as Border Rangers came back quickly, keeping Ava, Emma, Rebecca and Zara busy throwing everything they had to keep the ball in the attacking half.
Border Raider came close several times, but they still returned to the locker rooms at half-time 1-0 down.
The second half saw the momentum subside for Kyneton Rangers, which Border Rangers exploited quickly to equalise in the early minutes, drawing the game to one all.
Kyneton wasn’t ready to let the energy swing away from them, Lorelei, Kate, Lucinda and Ivy moving together as a united front, allowing the Rangers to regroup, and the fight was on. Keeping the ball in the attacking half and holding possession was a little risky, opening up gaps in Kyneton’s defence, but the pressure was on and confidence was up.
Late in the second half the momentum finally shifted. Perhaps it was club secretary Kate, mother of Isha playing in centre position, that inspired a run late in the game.
The excellent vision up field saw a gap open for Bronte Randle to boot a volley from close range, blasting past the keeper with only a few minutes to spare.
Kyneton didn’t rest, playing smartly until the whistle blew by passing the ball to keep possession away from the Border Raiders.
Kyneton Rangers, League Cup winners in the Division 2 BASL competition.
Big thanks to captain Kim Dickins and coach and club president Ron Cole.
PLAYERS: Joanne Mitchell, Bronte Randle, Madeleine Hacche, Simone Hooppell, Esther Minter, Monica O’Toole, Ava Coleman, Sian Hooppell, Emma Tricarico, Rebecca Cole, Kimberley Dickins, Zara Hooppell, Isha Kuyateh, Lorelei Cook, Kate Koster, Lucinda Campbell, Ivy Morris-Perrott.
