For the second year in a row, Spring Hills’ hopes of winning the state league 5 soccer championship come down to a crunch match against local rival Balmoral.
Last season, the Stallions finished third on the table, but one more win would have elevated them to top spot on goal difference.
Spring Hills had the off-season to think about three matches against then lowly placed Balmoral, in which the Stallions collected just one of a possible nine points. Fast forward to this week and Spring Hills is again in title contention, four points clear on top of the table.
A pesky nemesis, Balmoral is outright second, and the two sides will clash in a season- defining match on Saturday.
Stallions’ head coach Darren Traynor hasn’t forgotten the events of the past season.
“We only picked up a point off them last year and that probably cost us the league,” he said.
“This game is at home and it’s going to be huge. The clubs are located fairly close by, and they always seem to lift for us. I think our best is good enough to beat anyone, and I have told the boys that.
“But we need to be consistent, otherwise you can get beaten by anyone.”
The Stallions have already righted a few of last season’s wrongs, with both matches against Balmoral falling in their favour. In round one, Spring Hills took the points, 3-1, while in round eight it was 1-0.
It isn’t just the quest for short-term success that is driving the Stallions. With more than 550 junior members, Traynor says it’s vital that the senior side climbs state league ranks so youngsters don’t have to go elsewhere to play at a high level.
“This is a new club and it’s growing, so the infrastructure we have got is second to none,” he says.
“If we can keep building on the squad, we will be able to keep our juniors.”
Saturday’s game between Spring Hills and Balmoral is at Springside Reserve with kick-off at 3pm.
