Eaglehawk and Epsom scored comfortable wins over La Trobe University and Spring Gully United respectively to join title favourite Strathdale on nine points, while Golden City scored its first point of the season when it held Shepparton United to a 2-2 draw.

The trip to Stanley Avenue to face Spring Gully was seen as a potential danger game for Epsom, but the Scorpions put the young Reds on the back foot early with a goal after 16 minutes.

A corner kick from Kyle Smith found its way to Josh Dwyer in the six-yard box and the ball crashed into the back of the net off Dwyer's leg.

Epsom held its 1-0 lead to the main break.

The Reds looked to press in the opening minutes of the second half, but couldn't manufacture any meaningful shots on goal.

Epom doubled its advantage 16 minutes into the second half when Smith produced a magic moment.

The midfielder curled a corner kick inside the back post without a touch from the Gully defence.

With 15 minutes to play the Scorpions sealed the match when Ben Williams was in the right spot at the right time to head home his side's third goal from a corner kick and third goal of the match.

"We took our chances when we got them, which was good,'' Epsom coach Travis Robertson said.

"We set out to start the game well and we did that. We knew Spring Gully would keep coming at us, so to get two more goals in the second half and put the game away was a good effort."

Eaglehawk's attacking players had a day out against La Trobe.

The Borough scored 12 times against a Uni defence that had more holes than Swiss cheese.

Alex Caldow and Jesse Parker scored four times each, while Riley Hayton added a hat-trick.

"It was good to keep our momentum going,'' Eaglehawk coach Keegan Smyth, who scored one goal himself, said.

"There's been a few odd results where teams have dropped points unexpectedly, so it's important to win games like that."

The Borough unveiled new recruit Jesse Matthews, who returns to Bendigo soccer after previously playing with Melbourne City's youth side and NPL club Pascoe Vale.

"We're very happy to have him,'' Smyth said.

"He'll take a few weeks to get going, but he looks sharp with his skills and you can see that he's spent some time playing in Melbourne."

Golden City's best performance of the season so far earned the Rams a well-deserved point against Shepparton United.

The Rams raced to a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes when in-form striker Thu Rah Maung scored twice in the space of three minutes.

The Rams held their two-goal advantage until the 63rd minute when United's Hussein Sumaili scored his first goal of the season.

The goal sparked United and they poured the pressure on the young City defence.

The equaliser came 11 minutes later when Fedah Aziz found the back of the net.

That goal set up a grandstand finish, but both defences held firm and the teams were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Four clubs have broken clear early in the race for the women's championship.

Just one point separates Spring Gully United, Strathdale, La Trobe University and Shepparton United at the top of the ladder, with Strathfieldsaye Colts United a further four points away in fifth place.

In a lopsided round five, the lowest winning margin for the top four four teams was Strathdale's four-goal win over Moama-Echuca.

Bridget Chamberlain and Lucy Teale scored a brace each in Strathdale's 4-0 win.

La Trobe University was the most impressive winner of the round, with the students putting six goals past Eaglehawk.

Skipper Holly Boldiston and Olivia Kennedy both scored twice in the impressive victory, while Chloe Parker scored and was one of the better players.

Spring Gully United had a day out against bottom side Epsom.

The Reds won 15-0, with seven players putting their name on the score sheet.

Paige Conder led the charge with five goals, while Frances Leach added four and Jasmine Wright two.

Naomi Dawson, Emily Russell, Amanda Sgarioto and Siobhan Thompson also scored for the Reds.

Shepparton United outclassed Golden City 10-3 at Shadforth Park.

Four goals from Rezwana Baqiri, three goals from Trinity Cameron and a brace from Maria Villani were the highlights for the visitors.

Impressive teenager Letesha Bawden scored two of the Rams' three goals, while Caitlin Laing added the third.

Four goals from star player Rebecca Berry powered Strathfieldsaye Colts United to a 6-1 win over Shepparton South.

Michelle Duffy added the other two goals as Colts celebrated their first win since round two.

In the first four games of the season Tatura scored one goal.

On Sunday, Tatura scored 12 times in its big win over Swan Hill.

Elizabeth Corbo and Tara Bray both scored hat-tricks in the 12-0 win.

Gabriela Posteraro and captain Madison Forte both scored twice.

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DIVISION ONE

La Trobe University 0 lt FC Eaglehawk 12 (J. Parker 4, A. Caldow 4, R. Hayton 3, K. Smyth).

Spring Gully United 0 lt Epsom 3 (J. Dwyer, K. Smith, B. Williams).

Golden City 2 (T. Maung 2) dr Shepparton United 2 (H. Sumali, F. Aziz).

DIVISION TWO

Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 1 (J. Bavich) lt Strathdale 7 (M. Vlaeminck 2, D. Burnett, K. Goldsworthy, J. Brown (og) J. Clayton, C. Boxshall).

Golden City 1 (L. Hogan) lt Shepparton United 5 (L. Tuyisabe 3, A. Reuben, D. Kasongo).

La Trobe University 1 (O. Ridges) lt FC Eaglehawk 11 (D. Bell 4, K. Forrest 3, K. Probert 3, N. Burandt og).

Spring Gully United 4 (R. Yarwood 3, L. Merriman) d Epsom 1 (B. Ellis).

Shepparton South 3 (D. Kanyengele, A. Hosseini, L. Tweedie) d Strathfieldsaye Colts United 2 (Z. Mills, P. Hinton).

Tatura 3 (K. Minicozzi 2, C. Baser) d Swan Hill 2 (C. Brown 2).

WOMEN

Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 0 lt Strathdale 4 (L. Teale 2, B. Chamberlain 2).

La Trobe University 6 (H. Boldiston 2, O. Kennedy 2, C. Parker) d FC Eaglehawk 0.

Golden City 3 (L. Bawden 2, C. Laing) lt Shepparton United 10 (R. Baqiri 4, T. Cameron 3, M. Villani 2, J. Martin).

Spring Gully United 15 (P. Conder 5, F. Leach 4, J. Wright 2, S. Thompson, A. Sgarioto, E. Russell, N. Dawson) d Epsom 0.

Shepparton South 1 (C. Ruijters) lt Strathfieldsaye Colts United 6 (R. Berry 4, M. Duffy 2).

Tatura 12 (E. Corbo 3, T. Bray 3, G. Posteraro 2, M. Forte 2, N. Minicozzi, J. Posteraro) d Swan Hill 0.

YOUTH

Moama-Echuca Border Raiders 2 (N. Mundie, L. Van De Zand) d Strathdale 0.

Golden City 1 lt Shepparton United 6 (H. Sparkes 2, R. Scipione, O. Dodds, J. Bryce, B. Zurcas).

Tatura 14 (A. Niglia 9, J. Ashburner-Hill 2, S. Leocata, J. Pristley-White, B. Tartaglia) d Swan Hill 0.

FC Eaglehawk 3 (B. Walker 2, J. Sloane) d Spring Gully United 2 (P. Harding, L. Wight).

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