By: Lachlan SHIRLEY

THE TOP two teams in Geelong Region Men’s Division 1 both dropped valuable points over the weekend, with leaders Geelong Rangers drawing 1-1 with Lara United while second placed Surfside Waves were defeated by Corio 1-2.

On Friday night in Ocean Grove, Surfside was defeated for the first time since Round 8 after the visiting Corio narrowly defeated the Waves 2-1 at Shell Road Reserve.

Veseljko Graovac opened the scoring in the first half before Surfside’s Trent Budzynski managed to find the equalizer to make it level pegging at the break.

It wasn’t enough to secure a point for Surfside, however, as Graovac scored his second for the evening – which ultimately proved to be the match decider - in the second half.

Corio currently sits fourth on the league table with 24 points, however, they have a game in hand on the 3^rd placed Surf Coast whom they trail by just one point. Surfside remain second on the table with 30 points.

Sunday saw cold, wet and windy conditions which forced the cancellation of the clash between Barwon and Breakwater as the condition of the Grovedale Reserve pitch was deemed unplayable.

Across town, meanwhile, Lara United faced the league leaders Geelong Rangers at Myers Reserve and the Navy Blues managed to come away with a point from the game as the contest finished in a 1-1 draw.

The Rangers took a first half lead from a Matthew Long goal. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the points as United scored a second half equaliser. Unfortunately, the name of the goalscorer was not submitted by Lara in time for the weekly report.

Rangers remain in top spot with 32 points, just two points in front of Surfside Wavesbut they do have a game in hand. Lara, meanwhile, is currently seventh on the league standings with 17 points.

At Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, Drysdale took on the Deakin Ducks in a match which saw the home team eventually defeat the visitors 2-1.

Dougie Weeks scored Drysdale’s only goal for the match, however, the hosts came away with the victory as Samuel Sewell and Matthew Jordan scored a goal each for the Ducks.

Deakin now sits fifth on the table with 22 points, while Drysdale is eighth with 15 points.

To complete Round 14 action, Surf Coast mercilessly defeated Barwon Heads with an eye-opening 13-1 scoreline at Banyul Warri Reserve.

Jay Christou contributed four goals to his team’s cause, while Jack Duffy scored a hat-trick. Steven Russell and Chris Baldock both netted a brace apiece, while Matthew Allan and Mark Hagi each scored a goal to bring Surf Coast’s incredible goal tally for the afternoon to 13.

Barwon Heads remain in second last position on the table with seven points, eight behind third last placed Drysdale and away from the relegation zone.

With just four rounds remaining, it’s highly probably that Breakwater Eagles and Barwon Heads will be members of next season’s Division 2 competition.

They will be replaced by Bell Park and FC Leopold who have already secured promotion to the local league’s elite competition for next season.

Lachlan Shirley is a young SEDA student, currently doing work experience with FFV Geelong. He will be compiling regular weekly reports on the Geelong Region Men’s and Women’s Division 1 competitions.