Albury Hotspurs and Melrose fly the flag for local soccer as lockdown wipes out most games

The cancellation of another round in the Albury-Wodonga Football Association didn't stop the two clubs contesting the annual fixture, named after two of the men who founded the competition in 1973.

A busy day at Aloysius Park saw six games played and culminated with Melrose president David Pye handing the trophy to Hotspurs captain Brandon Vescio.

Brian Vanega, coaching Hotspurs in the absence of Victoria-based James Eggleston, was delighted players from both clubs had been able to get on the field.

"It's very valuable," Vanega said after the game.

"With the uncertainty around Covid, you don't know what's around the corner so any chance we get to play, we're going to take it."

Melrose, bottom of the ladder, have yet to win a league game this season but they were competitive throughout the first half.

Kristian Hopwood, the game's outstanding player in central midfield, broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval and Hotspurs were in control thereafter.

The hosts laid siege to the Melrose goal in the second half but had to wait until the last 10 minutes to add to their lead, Mitchell Aitken netting twice in quick succession.

Kristian Shipard rounded things off in the 90th minute with a clinical finish from point-blank range.

"The boys played well," Vanega said.

"We had more of the possession but we weren't that effective in the first half, we didn't create any big chances, so we spoke about that at half-time.

"The second half was more threatening and we put them under more pressure.

"Everyone wants to keep going and play finals because without this, there isn't a lot else going on.

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"We're more fortunate here in the border towns than Sydney and Melbourne but it'd be nice to have some sort of normality, to be able to train and finish the season.

"Last season was pretty much a write-off so it would be good to get some football across the line.

"We've got a lot of young players coming through.

"We had four players from the reserves contributing off the bench and one starting in Ben Gardiner.

"They were as good as any of the other players out there so it was a really good team effort."

Hotspurs president Brad Howard felt the whole day had been worthwhile.

"This is exactly what community football's about," he said.

"We do play for league points normally but everybody's come to play and the numbers have been great.

"We don't know what's going to happen from one week to the next so it's been great to play these games today."

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