STRATHDALE has ignited its season with a stirring win over Bendigo Amateur Soccer League division one rival Epsom.
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The Blues moved within one win of new league leaders Eaglehawk following a 4-2 victory at the Scorpions' home at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
It was a potential double blow for the Scorpions, who are facing the loss of three points from their round one win over Spring Gully for allegedly playing an ineligible player.
The Blues produced some of their best soccer of the season and at one stage led 3-0, before the Scorpions got themselves onto the scoreboard.
The margin became 4-1 before the Scorpions added another deep in stoppage time.
Daniel Maierhofler and Joel Clayton booted two goals each for the Blues, who have lost only once this season, but have three frustrating draws to go along with their four wins.
Coach Jon Bryers labelled Sunday's win as the Blues' most complete performance this season.
"We finally played a full game of soccer for once," he said.
"It sets our season up, we've only lost the one game.
"It's been a frustrating year in many ways in that we haven't taken our chances, but we finally had a day out where we did take some chances.
"We probably could have scored another four or five goals as well, so we still have some work to do."
Bryers rated the game of captain and reigning league medallist Stephen Barrett as one of his best ever in a Blues uniform.
"He was unbelievable - he's probably the best player I've seen play in Bendigo, he's a superstar," he said.
"He was just too strong and too physical in the middle.
"His skill is unbelievable."
The win thrusts Strathdale into another big match against fourth-placed Tatura, which defeated Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 7-1.
Brent Mathers and Tristan Zito did the most damage for Tatura with two goals apiece.
Shepparton United was booted from top spot following a 3-2 loss to crosstown rivals Shepparton South at Central Park.
Joel Aitken was the destroyer for South with a hat-trick of goals, while Mohammed Almussawi and Ermal Marku scored for United.
Eaglehawk took advantage of United's slip-up to claim top spot following a 5-1 victory over Shepparton.
Greg Thomas scored twice for the Hawks, while Nathan Hamblin, Brandon Mountjoy and Ben Ingerson each slotted one goal at Shepparton's Vilbert Reserve.
Thomas leads all division one players this season with with 19 goals and looms as the player Epsom will most need to curtail in this weekend's blockbuster at Truscott Reserve.
Spring Gully moved into sixth position with a 3-1 win over Colts United, which is still searching for its first win.
Josh Naunton scored a double for Spring Gully, while Daniel Bish netted his first goal for the season.
For Colts United, Yan Butler-Rees was the lone scorer with his first goal of the season.
Reigning women’s champion Epsom survived a big scare from Strathdale in their clash at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve.
The Scorpions won 4-3, but not before they were stretched to the limit.
The Blues took the game right up to their highly-fancied opponents and were unlucky not to pinch a point.
Epsom’s depth was the difference in the end as Tara Thomas scored a brace and Emma Wolters and Tricia Sambrooks added one goal each.
14-year-old Ellie Vlaeminck continued her stunning season, scoring a hat-trick for the Blues.
Vlaeminck has found the back of the net 16 times in six games.
It was a crucial win for the Scorpions after Shepparton United lost its first game of the season and Colts United was held to a draw by Spring Gully United.
Epsom is now two points clear of Colts United at the top of the ladder, with Shepparton United third.
Spring Gully looked set for victory against Colts United when Reds’ star Meredith Cahill scored twice inside the first 12 minutes.
Colts star Rebecca Berry gave her side a lift midway through the second half when she scored for the 20th time this season.
It wasn’t until the 89th minute that Colts drew level when Lauren Anderson scored for the first time this season.
For the first time this season Shepparton United failed to score and it was defeated 1-0 by crosstown rival Shepparton South.
Jamie Clarke’s third goal of the season for Shepparton South was the difference between two teams.
In the final game of the round, a brace from Jess Hartland and one goal from Katrina Torney gave Swan Hill a 3-0 victory over Golden City in the battle of the bottom two teams.
Division two results:
Tatura 4 d Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 0, Eaglehawk 2 d Shepparton 0, Colts United 1 dr Spring Gully 1, Epsom 1 dr Strathdale 1, Shepparton United 5 d Shepparton South 1, Swan Hill 5 d Golden City 4.
Youth championship results:
Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 5 d Tatura 2, Epsom 3 d Strathdale 1, Golden City 10 d Swan Hill 2, Shepparton South 8 d Shepparton United 0.
Next week’s division one matches:
Colts United v Shepparton, Strathdale v Tatura, Eaglehawk v Epsom, Shepparton South v Moama-Echuca Border Raiders, Spring Gully v Golden City.
Next week’s women’s matches:
Eaglehawk v Epsom, Shepparton South v Moama-Echuca Border Raiders, Spring Gully v Golden City, Swan Hill v Shepparton United.