Bendigo United moved a step closer to a 10th-consecutive Bendigo District Cricket Association finals berth after an easy win over a disappointing Eaglehawk on Saturday.In what was billed as the match of the round at Canterbury Park, the Hawks proved no match for the top-of-the-ladder Redbacks.Batting first, the Hawks were dismissed for just 99 in 32.5 overs as their pre-Christmas form that saw them climb into the top four eluded them.By the 15th over the Hawks had crashed to 5-39 as their experienced top-order failed dismally.All falling cheaply were Jason Abbott (5), Andrew Smith (13), Matt White (7), Sam Walker (2) and captain Matt Fitt (4) as the Hawks’ top-five batsmen combined for just 31 runs.In his first first XI game of the season Byron Perrin (3-20) and Marcus Smalley (2-26) combined to take the first five wickets between them for the Redbacks.From 5-39, the returning Cory Jacobs (32 off 43) and Shane Herdman (24 off 47) put on 46 for the sixth wicket.But when Herdman was dismissed by Nick Crawford (2-28) in the 28th over, it sparked another collapse in which the Hawks lost 5-14.Leigh McDermott (3-10) ripped through the tail, while wicket-keeper Harry Donegan ended the innings with four catches.In reply, the Redbacks lost three wickets in chasing their target down as they reached 3-100 in the 31st over.Opener Mark Di Fede top-scored with 34 off 77 balls, before he was caught at cover by Jonathan Andrea off Abbott (1-14) just 14 runs shy of victory.The Redbacks remain a game clear at the top of the ladder, while the loss cost the Hawks their position in the top four.● Golden Square’s improved season continued with a 49-run win over Sandhurst at Weeroona Oval. Square amassed a mammoth 3-277 off its 45 overs batting first.Scott Johnson’s fine season continued as the opener batted through the innings, but fell just short of a century as he finished unbeaten on 95.Johnson faced 119 balls and hit 10 fours and one six in his innings.Earlier, Johnson played second-fiddle in an opening partnership of 71 with captain Grant Connelly.Connelly slammed 62 off 54 balls, blasting eight fours and two sixes.When Connelly was dismissed in the 15th over, Johnson was on four, but he, along with Jason Johnson (39 off 53) and Mathew Christie (54 off 36) kept the runs flowing.In reply, the Dragons were bowled out in the 39th over for 228.The standout with the ball for Golden Square was again spinner Jamie Fitzgibbon, whose brilliant season continued.Fitzgibbon took the last five wickets to fall as he finished with 5-45 off nine overs and is now the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 23.At one stage Andrew Duguid (2-17) was on a hat-trick after he dismissed Mark Holland (15) and Dylan Gibson (20) in consecutive balls.However, on his hat-trick ball an lbw shout against Shane Robinson (6) was turned down.The Dragons were always going to struggle when they fell to 7-131 in the 23rd over, but the last three wickets combined to put on 97.Captain Anthony West was the best of the Sandhurst batsmen with 60 off 57 (six fours, one six).● White Hills recorded a rare win against Kangaroo Flat, prevailing by 20 runs at Integrating Technology Oval.The Demons last beat the Roos during the mid-1990s, but it was so long ago that no-one at the ground could recall exactly when it was.The Demons made 180 batting first, having earlier been 5-68, before knocks from Oliver Geary (43 off 47, three fours, two sixes), Ben Gardner (26 off 48) and Travis Colley (18 n.o. off 16) lifted the Demons to a total that proved too many for the Roos to chase.Opener Darren Gregory (36 off 65) was the best of the Demons’ top-order batsmen.Brent Hamblin was the pick of the bowlers for the Roos, claiming 4-31.The batting woes that have hampered the Roos this season continued when they were dismissed for 160, with only two players making more than 20.In his return to the side, Darcy Geyer top-scored with 48 off 58 (six fours), while injury-prone opener Brad Orton made a quickfire 26 off 25 (five fours).The struggling Roos had been 4-123 in the 36th over, before their last six wickets fell for just 37 runs.Colley took 3-29 for the Demons, who moved to within three points of the top four with the win.