By: Lorcan MATHEWS

TWO GEELONG junior boys' teams produced some stunning football to come away from last weekend’s Boys FC Tournament in Bendigo undefeated in their respective age categories.

PHOTO: The champion Elcho Park U11s team (top), the champion Elcho Park U10s team (middle) and the Fair Play Award recipients, the Barwon Heads U10s (bottom)

Held as a major major pre-season event in Bendigo last Saturday and Sunday, Boys FC (and Girls’ FC) is a 7-a-side junior tournament that allows Victorian regional and metropolitan teams the ideal opportunity to socialise and bond as a team in a fun, yet competitive environment in preparation for the upcoming winter season.

Both Elcho Park Cardinals Under 10’s and 11’s maintained a flawless record throughout the tournament, going five rounds unbeaten on their way to the title in the U10’s A and U11’s A division categories respectively.

With ex-Socceroo captain and spokesman for the Geelong A-League bid Steve Horvat and current Corio SC Senior coach Ante Didulica coaching the U10 team, coupled by Ante Stosic and ex-Croatia International and current Melbourne City FC Goalkeeping Coach Joey Didulica taking charge of the U11’s, this again demonstrates the wealth of experience and high calibre throughout the coaching ranks in the Geelong region.

Additionally, Barwon Heads SC U10’s capped a stunning weekend of results being awarded the ‘Fair Play award for their respective age group by Football Federation Victoria. As a result, the boys and the coaching staff were rewarded for their sportsmanship accepting a signed Melbourne City FC team jersey as well as a pennant detailing the boys fantastic conduct both on and off the pitch.

Another Elcho Park team (an U9’s team that was pushed up into the U10’s C category due to a lack of numbers at the U9 level) beat the previously undefeated top side in their section, but were unlucky to miss out on a grand final berth, eventually going down 2-4 to the eventual champions.