GSSA 2023: Caledonians score five second-half goals to remain undefeated in men’s division one competition

Caledonians produced a stunning second-half performance to emphatically assert their claims as one of the top sides in the Great Southern Soccer Association men’s division one competition this season following a 6-1 demolition over Polonia in round two on Saturday night. Fresh off a crushing 13-0 victory over Stirling Rangers last week, the rampant Caledonians ripped apart their opponents en route to registering 19 goals in the space of a fortnight. A hard-fought first half saw both teams grapple for the ascendancy and it looked as though little would separate reigning champions Polonia, and the in-form Caledonians by the conclusion of play. Jason Wilson hit the scoresheet for Polonia to open his account for the season before Calvin Bosch rifled a shot in Polonia’s net to level scores. Caledonians responded to a slightly lacklustre opening half by storming out of the gates after the break. Nathan Kay controlled the tempo in centre-midfield, moving through the channels superbly to find his teammates while breaking up build-up play from Polonia. Flairy winger Oliver Tricholo was electric down the left wing, terrorising Polonia’s defenders and he was duly rewarded in the early stages of the second-half. The Polonia defence battled hard to keep the barrage of attacks at bay but an errant challenge from Polonia’s Craig Jordan on Trichilo was deemed a penalty. Levi Clay made no mistake from the spot, firing his penalty to the left of Polonia goalkeeper Renoir Nash to gain the advantage. Caledonians played with freedom for the remainder of the half as goals to Joseph Love and Trichilo made it 4-1 before Dylan Cook put the icing on the cake with their fifth of the match. A cruel own goal to Polonia turned their disappointment to agony on a night to forget as they stumbled to a 6-1 defeat. Rovers remain undefeated after an comfortable 4-0 win over Stirling Rangers. Phoenix put three goals past Bayswater to get their season going with a 3-1 result, notching their first win of the season. In the women’s division one competition, Mt Barker’s Libby Morris was the hat-trick hero against Sonics in a thumping 9-0 triumph on Friday night. Leah Field (two goals), Melanie Greeney (two) and Timea Hurle (one) also got in on the action in their side’s first win of the season. Denmark kept a clean-sheet for the second week running, prevailing over Rovers with a 3-0 win. Caledonians were 9-0 victors over Sharks while Phoenix battled out an impressive 4-1 win against Polonia in the other round two results.