Round 14 action of the 2024 East Gippsland Hockey Association season last Saturday saw Orbost host Swan Reach at its Recreation Reserve home.
The Green and Gold certainly made the most out of the opportunity to play in front of their local crowd for the last time this year by securing victories in four out of the day’s five fixtures.
Orbost’s under 14s side were looking to keep their recent momentum going as they push for a spot in the finals, and they got off to the best start in their derby clash when Jasper Anderson converted the first attack of the match with a shot into the bottom corner.
After some strong clearance work from Leni Millward kept the visitors’ initial threats on goal at bay, Swan Reach was able to equalise, but the Green and Gold quickly seized the initiative again when after Mia Martin fired wide on one attempted scoring chance, Anderson powered home his team’s next opportunity.
The first half scoring did not end there either as a brilliant run through the defence by Chloe Findley found Anderson wide open in front of goal to complete his hat-trick and put Orbost firmly in control at the main break.
Swan Reach gradually clawed its way back into the game from that point on, but some sterling tackling from Sarah Gladstone and Ava Martin on the backline plus a number of key interventions with his boots by goalie Campbell Edlington helped to disrupt its attacking rhythm.
The home side always remained dangerous on the counterattack, particularly with Kayley Robinson’s ball-winning skills in the centre and the pace of Keira Irvine and Kitty Millward, and it was from one such integrated team move that Anderson charged forward into the ‘D’ and slotted home for 4-1.
After Jack Scott’s attempt to ice the game with a shot on goal from a corner was saved, Swanny were able to squeeze the ball home from a corner of their own to narrow the margin to two goals, and when moments later they pounced on a defensive mix-up to make it 4-3, the game was alive again in the closing minutes.
The Green and Gold backline showed its mettle though when it needed to, with Leni Millward making a big goal-saving tackle to preserve the win, a victory which confirms Orbost’s finals participation for 2024, a campaign which will begin in a fortnight’s time with an elimination final against Swan Reach.
Final score: Orbost 4 d Swan Reach 3.
Orbost’s women’s team have endured a tough time on the pitch so far this season, performing creditably but without ever being able to close out a victory – until this round, courtesy of their tense win by a single goal over their closest rivals.
The Green and Gold started brightly and almost opened the scoring via Zoe Martin on the far post after a telling Mia Joiner cross, and after Phoebe Findley ended a dangerous opposition attack with her determined tackling, she then made a crucial interception which led to a Bree Kenny pass and a cool Joiner finish for 1-0.
As is usually the case when these two sides meet, the contest ebbed and flowed from that point on, with Georgia Anderson drawing a save from the away keeper when she unleashed a powerful shot, and Sarah McDonald spectacularly swatting away a goal-bound ball at the other end to maintain the hosts’ slender lead at the half.
In the early stages of the second term Orbost was all over the Swanny defence, but somehow an extended scramble in front of the cage saw shots from both Misty Anderson and Kerryn Volk both smothered and no penalty stroke awarded.
A subsequent Kenny strike went just wide as the Green and Gold looked to put the game beyond reach, but Swan Reach had its chances in attack too, and despite goalie Alana Farley making a bold aerial save, they managed to find the equalising score from the rebound.
With time ticking away, Orbost needed to dig deep to find some inspiration, and it came when Leni Millward and Volk combined to dispossess their opponent and keep the ball in attack, one which Kenny was able to drill into the corner of the cage.
The visitors had one last throw of the dice themselves, but when Ellie Florance definitively tackled her opponent and cleared to safety, the hard-earned victory was secured.
Final score: Orbost 4 d Swan Reach 3.
Orbost Hockey Club will complete its home-and-away season this Saturday when it travels to the WORLD facility in Bairnsdale to play against Sale.
Keira Irvine looks downfield for another Orbost stick during the important under 14s victory against Swan Reach last weekend at the Orbost Recreation Reserve.
Ava Martin tracks her opponent carefully in Orbost’s under 14s upset win over Swan Reach.
