The Border Raiders’ path to league two women’s finals has gathered more momentum with another big win, while the men stumbled in defeat to Shepparton.
A fourth clean sheet of the season handed the Raiders women a 4-0 win over Epsom in Moama, maintaining second spot and trailing ladder-leaders Kyneton by one game.
That will make the round seven clash between the two even more important in a potential finals preview at Woodend this Sunday.
The Raiders will also get their League Cup campaign under way next Sunday against Golden City at Jack Eddy Oval.
Meanwhile, the Raiders experienced a reversal of the women’s score, dropping two games outside the top four after a 4-0 defeat to Shepparton SC in their return from the bye.
Two goals either side of half-time saw the Raiders drop their third game of the season, with their 2-3-1 record leaving them in fifth place and trailing Swan Hill by six premiership points.
An opportunity will present itself in round eight to pull themselves back into the finals discussion when the Raiders meet Golden City Rams (1-6) in North Bendigo this Sunday.
Through the junior ranks, an exciting early blitz from under-16 player Sebastien Jouault-Thomas saw the young gun score a brace, but the Raiders were unable to get over the top of Spring Gully.
The under-14 Raiders had contrasting fortunes, with the 14A side recording a thrilling 2-1 win over Epsom via Ethan Anthony (11th minute) and Tommy Quirk, while the 14B side fell to Strathdale.
Ladders
CVL 2 men: Shepparton 16, Golden City 15, La Trobe Uni Red 15, Swan Hill 13, Border Raiders 7, La Trobe Uni Black 6, Deniliquin Wanderers 4, Golden City Rams 3, Shepp Lushi 0.
CVL 2 women: Kyneton Rangers 15, Border Raiders 12, La Trobe Uni 12, Castlemaine Goldfields 9, Swan Hill 1, Golden City 1, Epsom 0.