THE race for the James Anderson Medal as the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League's division one best and fairest in 2014 ended in a tie between Spring Gully's Matt Ford and Eaglehawk's Nathan Hamblin.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On what was a memorable night for Spring Gully, key playmaker Paige Conder scored 19 votes to win the Loris Browning Medal as champion player in the women's competition.
Another medal winner from Spring Gully was Jordan Buckley in the youth competition.
Friday night's vote count for BASL's division one was dramatic.
At three rounds to go, Ford and Hamblin were locked on 11 votes.
Ford was best afield in round 12 and polled two in the next to be on 16. The Reds had the bye in the last round.
Two votes in round 12 put Hamblin within three votes of Ford going into the final round.
Best afield in the final round meant Hamblin drew level on 16 votes. It was the fourth time he gained maximum votes.
Ford's consistency was shown by earning votes in eight of 15 matches.
The John Webb trophy for Best Young Male Player went to Nathan Hamblin.
Strathdale's Sean Boxshall struck 18 goals to earn the Golden Boot award.
A superb season by Conder included the maximum three votes in five matches.
Gully's star earned a vote in the second last round to be uncatchable on 19 votes.
Colts United's Elizabeth Watkins capped a fast finish to be runner-up on 18. Watkins was the league's Best Young Female Player.
The Golden Boot award was won by Epsom's Jacinta Steele (Dikkenberg) on 17 goals.
Swan Hill's Joseph Pino scored 18 votes to win the Barry Moore Medal for best and fairest in division two.
Runner-up was last year's winner, Phil Berry from Colts United on 16.
Pino struck 16 goals to win the Golden Boot.
In the youth championship, Spring Gully's Jordan Buckley was adjudged best afield in four matches on his way to a tally of 16 votes to be the Mel McGovern medallist.
Runner-up was Golden City's Corey Page on 15.
The Golden Boot title went to Page on 21 goals.
Championship winners and runners-up - Div. 1 men: Strathdale, Spring Gully. Div. 2 men: Strathdale, Spring Gully. Women's: Colts United, Spring Gully. Youth: Strathdale, Swan Hill.
Most disciplined club award went to Strathdale.
Most improved club award to Spring Gully.
The President's award was presented to Epsom's Tony Hill.
The Tresize family from Strathdale Soccer Club earned the Family Spirit award for the 2014 championship season.
