Strikers win again
The Gippsland Strikers under 18s have cemented their spot atop the ladder with a 5-2 win over Mentone.
After a road trip into Melbourne for a 9:30am start in single figure temperatures, the game undoubtedly began slowly, before Zizi Pozzebon and Cailaen Thomas scored twice within a minute, getting the ball rolling.
The lead was short-lived though, as Mentone responded immediately with two goals of their own.
Bianca Zurrer scored just before half time, giving the Strikers a 3-2 lead at the break.
The second half was much unlike the first, with the beginning of the quarter seeing those in defence gasping for air as they struggled to keep the ball out of Mentone's forward.
Sarah Sutton-McLennan, Tarilyn Bottrell, and Lauren Austin defended with amazing tenacity as Mentone continually rebounded the Strikers attack.
Eventually the Strikers broke through with a great attacking play from Hudson Short and Eli Bubbles, allowing Pozzebon to score two more goals.
This meant she takes the league goal scoring lead away from injured captain, Jordan Oellermann, driving home a 5-2 final score.
The Strikers women's team made their second trek in a row to Box Hill, taking on an in-form ECHO side in round eight.
ECHO capitalized on some sloppy form from the Strikers early, but from then on, the game was all theirs.
The team were slick in defence, and dominated the attack, adding three goals to take the match 3-1.
After a few weeks without a win, the Strikers song was sung loud and proud.
Round five results. Under 12s.
Drouids defeated Warriors 2-1.
Goals:
Drouids: Elisha Maskell, Steven McNamara. Warriors: Georgia Hazell.
Gulls defeated Aztecs 9-0.
Goals:
Gulls: Jacob Mock 4, Zoe Finger, Caleb Ballantyne 2, James Duiker.
Under 15s.
Warriors defeated Drouids 2-0.
Goals:
Warriors: Alexis Hazell, Sam Pepper.
Gulls defeated Aztecs 8-1.
Goals:
Gulls: Issac Graziotin, Brady Cake 3, Liam Finger. Aztecs: Kaylen Bietman
Under 18s.
Gulls defeated Aztecs 2-0.
Goals:
Gulls: Marisah Mock, Merri Spalding.
Women's.
Warriors defeated Drouids 5-0.
Goals:
Warriors: Monique Zurrer 2, Bianca Zurrer, Kimberley Reynolds, Bethany Calway.
Gulls defeated Aztecs 4-2.
Goals:
Gulls: Ariya Mock 3, Laura James. Aztecs: Lauren Austin, Robyn Ridsdale.
Men's.
Drouids drew Warriors 3-3.
Goals:
Drouids: Mark Maskell, Leith Metcalf, Mathew Zurrer. Warriors: James Belfield, Andrew Harrison, Scott Marks. Gulls defeated Aztecs 6-1.
Goals:
Gulls: Hamish Zurrer, Samuel Graziotin 2, Colin Oellermann, Will Smith. Aztecs: Paul Bailey.