SENIORS
A TOUGH road trip to take on the third placed Eley Park was sure to provide the Xmen with one of their toughest tasks this year. With the aid of a slight breeze on the small ground, the boys jumped out of the blocks with Andrews, Dimma, Pearson and van Dam getting their hands on the ball, allowing McNally, Spencer and Scott to dominate up forward. The handy quarter time lead, however, was quickly taken away in the second term with Eley Park dominating the lazy Xmen to only trail by four points at the main break.
Enter Ben Spencer. The forward took the game by storm in the third, and in a dominating individual display kicked seven goals for the term and had a hand in a couple more as the Xmen piled on 12 goals to one to put the game out of reach for Eley Park. The win was no doubt the best for the year with some great work by backmen Gould and Bonedio and ensures a perfect 10-0 start to an exciting year.
SFXOC 28.14. (182) d Eley Park 17.19. (121)
Goals- B. Spencer 9, D. Scott 5, E. McNally, C. Van Dam 4, D. Dimakopoulos, T. Pearson, L. Andrews 2
RESERVES
Taking on Eley Park, the reserves were looking to get back on the winners list. They started well in the first term, playing the tough conditions well. Antonielli and Dapiran were on fire in the first quarter and as a result the Xmen went to the first break 26pts in front. In the second, Eley Park used the breeze well and fought their way back into the game. They reduced the Xmen’s lead down to nine points. In the second half, the game became a real battle. Laver and Watts were holding firm down back. The Xmen held the lead until the last two minutes when Eley Park kicked a goal to steal the game. As a result, the Xmen slip to third on the ladder. They will be very keen to get back to winning form next week against Chadstone.
Eley Park 10.6. (66) d SFXOC 8.14. (62)
Goals – D. Dapiran 4, D. Antonielli, T. Finck, S. Chin, J. Abel. Best – B. Laver, T. Finck, D. Kinder, D. Dapiran, S. Watts, B. Sheers.
