GEELONG Rangers ended newly crowned Men’s Division 1 champions Barwon SC’s unbeaten run with two quality first half goals to run out 2-0 winners in Round 16 action at Myers Reserve on Sunday.

PHOTO: Rangers’ goalkeeper Troy Hardy being carried off the ground by teammates earlier in the season. Hardy magnificently saved a one-on-one against Barwon on Sunday (Photo: Geelong Rangers Facebook page)

After having come straight from Torquay, where they were special guests at the Melbourne Victory Presidents’ luncheon as part of the MiniRoos Gala Day at Banyul Warri Reserve, Dale Harris’ men could be forgiven for having their mind on other matters as the top of the table clash got underway.

Zac Harry opened the scoring early for the second placed home side after some fine lead up work by Darren Maccallum.

Maccallum.made it 2-0 when Dave Ellis headed back to him in the box and the Scot hit an unstoppable header.

It was a deserved lead, although Barwon had two one on ones with Rangers’ goalkeeper Troy Hardy saving one and a lob going narrowly wide.

Stuart Begg should have made it 3-0 for the home side but failed to connect with a header.

Barwon, as expected, came back strongly in the opening session of the second half, but woeful shooting and a determined Rangers defence kept them scoreless.

Third placed Breakwater Eagles kept pace with the Rangers, defeating bottom side FC Leopold 5-1 at the Estuary Estate in Leopold. The Eagles’ goals were scored by Chris Appleford, Nicholas Clissold, Cailen Lee and Adam Van Den Broek, as well as an own goal.

The win keeps the Eagles to within one point of the second placed Rangers, while the loss guarantees FC Leopold the dreaded ‘wooden spoon’ and relegates the first year club to next season’s Division 2.

Second last placed Surf Coast FC kept alive its dream of staying in the elite competition with a solid 1-1 draw against fourth placed Surfside Waves at Banyul Warri Reserve.

The Coasters now find themselves just two points off safety, with both Drysdale and last season’s champions Deakin Ducks precariously close to the relegation zone following respective losses last weekend.

Deakin lost 1-5 to Lara United at the Lara Recreation Reserve, with State League 5 senior team striker Ben Houston bagging a brace, while Iain Mcbeth-Kirton and Tom Zaleski scored one apiece. The fifth goal came via an own goal.

The win solidifies Lara’s fifth placing on the standings and they now find themselves just three points off fourth placed Surfside Waves.

In the other Round 16 game, a resurgent Barwon Heads defeated Drysdale 3-0 at Village Park with Robert Armstrong scoring his fourth goal in as many games. Jason Portch and Jess Rappa scored the other two goals for the Hammerheads.

In the battle for the ‘Golden Boot’, Barwon duo Adam Leather and Craig Cameron-Smith lead the charts with 14 goals apiece, followed by Rangers pair Ben Noble and Zach Harry on 13 goals apiece.