The men and women of Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club found the going tough in the opening round of the 2015 season.
The women lost 0-5 to St Albans Saints in Melbourne in their first game at State League 3 level after finishing third in State League 4 in 2014.
Both men’s teams went down to Ballarat-based Vic Park at Chewton, although the young Division 1 side was unlucky not to grab a draw in the final minutes when a penalty taken by Jono Burris was well saved by the Vic Park keeper diving full stretch to his left.
That penalty had been cannily won by Brendan Connelly, who discarded his goalkeeper’s shirt in the final 20 minutes of the match to emerge, like Superman from a phone box, as Superstriker.
He had the Vic Park defenders looking for Kryptonite to quell his powers as he used pace, strength and skill up front to cause chaos.
Eight minutes short of full time, he rounded one defender on the left flank, used his pace to get back on the ball, then balanced and fired a shot hard into the back of the net.
The goal got the Mainers back in the game after they had conceded goals in the first few minutes of both halves.
Three minutes later, Superstriker toppled as he was surrounded and hounded by three defenders. Penalty!
Despite the missed shot, Castlemaine finished the game full of running with youngsters Benjamin Adams and Sunday Lam, playing their first senior games, leading the charge.
Winger Taro Muller and left-back Connor Bethune also provided flare and run, while replacement keeper Jules Whitcroft did a solid job when he took over the gloves from Brendan in the second half.
Division 2
The new-look Division 2 side tried hard but was outclassed in the first half by Vic Park, conceding three goals.
The second half was much more even.
Newcomer Jules Whitcroft made some excellent saves after taking the keeper’s gloves from injured Kane Parker at half time. Midfielder Dean Nendick battled as bravely as always and central defenders Jim Kourkoulakos and Doryan Gowty worked like Trojans to stave off wave after wave of opposition attacks.
Lewis Fortuna worked hard in his first senior game and there was some pace and skill from Harrison Cocks and Hugh Feary to add to the mix.
As a result, Castlemaine conceded just one goal in the second half to eventually lose 0-4.
