Eaglehawk coach Greg Thomas is confident his side won’t lose its focus as it tries to reel in BASL leader Shepparton United.
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The defending champions are four points behind Shepparton United in the chase for the championship and it would be easy for them to take one eye off the ball and concentrate too much on what United is doing.
Thomas said last year’s experience of chasing down Epsom to win the title would hold the Hawks in good stead.
“We need to worry about ourselves and keep winning,’’ Thomas said.
“It’s a similar scenario to last year where Epsom was just in front of us all year and we had to keep winning to put the pressure on them.
“We came through in the end and won and we need to do something similar this year. We need to keep winning games and hope that they (Shepparton United) slip up at some stage.”
The Hawks are at home to winless Colts United on Sunday and they’re expected to have few troubles in claiming the three points.
“We’re not taking anyone lightly,’’ Thomas said.
“Colts will be up for the challenge and, from what I’ve been told, they played well for 70 minutes against Strathdale last week.
“Every game for us is a big game and this is no different.”
Ladder leaders Shepparton United face a much tougher contest against third-placed Tatura.
Tatura’s defence has been outstanding this season and United’s attack will have to be at its best to score multiple goals.
Fourth-placed Strathdale and fifth-placed Shepparton meet in a crucial encounter at Beischer Park on Sunday.
The victor will stay in touch with the likes of Shepparton United and Eaglehawk, while the loser will find it hard to remain in championship contention.
Epsom makes the long trip to Deniliquin to play bottom side Moama-Echuca Border Raiders and should return with a double-figure sized victory.
In the final game of the round, Golden City will fancy its chances of causing an upset when it travels to Shepparton to play Shepparton South.
The young Rams played well in last week’s 2-1 loss to the highly-rated Tatura and a repeat of that form would give them a great chance of pinching all three points.
In the women’s championship, the match of the round is at Eaglehawk, with the second-placed Hawks hosting fourth-placed Colts.
It’s a battle between the Hawks’ resolute defence and Colts’ free-scoring front half.