Melrose opened their 2018 AWFA campaign in style on Sunday afternoon with a convincing 5-2 win over Cobram, despite the absence of returning striker Trent Rixon.
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The key signing for Melrose was a late out on Sunday but it didn’t matter, with playing coach Kade Rixon booting three goals and Adam Waters two.
Cobram were on the back foot early, with Rixon’s first coming in the third minute.
Aaron Feldtmann equalised soon after, but Rixon’s second goal left the visitors behind at half-time.
Melrose put the foot down after the break, catching the Roar off-guard with two goals in two minutes for Waters and Rixon respectively.
The home side were humming along in the second half, the only blemish coming from a terrific Gregory Simmons free kick in the 77th minute.
A sealer from Waters in the 87th put the game beyond doubt, and the result left Rixon with a few selection dilemmas.
The playing coach said a number of younger players, notably Lachlan Walch and Lachlan Arkinstall, had answered the call-up to the senior side well.
“We had a few missing, we had a few 16-year-olds out there so we knew it’d have to be about bringing energy and to their credit, the young blokes just kept running,” Rixon said.
We had a few 16-year-olds out there so we knew it’d have to be about bringing energy and to their credit, the young blokes just kept running.
- Kade Rixon
“We’ve got a few guys playing that some guys wouldn’t have seen, we were unpredictable, we probably caught Cobram out a little bit.
“It’s a good experience for them today, Cobram are a very good team.
“Scoring five goals today and missing Evan Rawluk who’s led the scoring the last year and obviously Trent, they’re our two goal-scorers.
“It’s a good thing to know we can do this, but at the same time we’ll have to change things around to fit those blokes in as well.”
Elsewhere in the league, two second half goals from George Elkotta got Wangaratta the win over Twin City Wanderers, while St Pats and Albury United both picked up a point after their 1-1 draw.
Reigning league and cup champions Myrtleford got their season off to a good start thanks to co-coach Matt Park.
The loss of reigning Star Player Will Dennis was no obstacle, as Park found the net to claim a 1-0 win over Albury City, while Albury Hotspurs found the back of the net either side of half time to take a 2-0 win over Wodonga Diamonds.
In the only senior women’s match for the weekend, Albury United were too strong for St Pats, claiming a convincing 4-1 victory.
