REVIEW: 2025 F-League Rd7

Both our men’s and women’s teams wrapped up the opening half of the season with wins this weekend against Elitefoot at the Velodrome.

Our men’s team took all three points from their much anticipated clash against Elitefoot after a hard fought match which saw us come from behind on three separate occasions in a high scoring first half.

After starting the game with plenty of chances but failing to capitalise, Elitefoot against the run of play found the back of the net via two deflections off a freekick. Orlando Lopez replied on the back of a solo run which saw him go straight down the middle of the Elitefoot defence and finish on a tight angle levelling the scores at 1-1. Elitefoot’s lead was restored after a nicely finished attack. We responded quickly, Isiah Quinn found space and fired a shot towards the Elitefoot keeper, whos save landed at the feet of Sachin Prasad, he made no mistake and finished on the volley. Elitefoot for the third time took the lead after a finish on a tight angle. Instantly we were level again, it took three passes to cut through Elitefoot and Orlando Lopez had his second goal of the match as he rounded the Elitefoot keeper and finished on a tight angle.

The second half was all River City attack and we found the lead for the first time through a well worked possession and Ky Bowman finding the back of the net from a tight angle. We doubled our advantage minutes later from an indirect freekick, well finished by Matthew Joubert. Elitefoot with 11 minutes to play went into powerplay and didn’t create clear cut chances. But the game was given life again when Elitefoot scored off a free kick with 2:37 on the clock. With seconds to play, Ky Bowman pinched the ball and went beyond the Elitefoot defender to finish into an empty net sealing the three points. Another strong performance while short regular first team players and the perfect way to enter the mid season break.

Match Details

F-League Men’s Round 7

Sunday 21 September 2025, 2:20pm

Elitefoot 4 vs 6 River City Futsal

RCF Squad: 2. Roman Cvjeticanin, 3. Ky Bowman (C), 4. Harley Brown, 7. Kern Platts-Mills, 8. Joshua Buxton, 10. Orlando Lopez, 11. Daniel Aparicio, 12. Sachin Prasad, 13. Isiah Quinn, 16. Matthew Joubert, 44. Euan Hardie

RCF Scorers: Ky Bowman x2, Orlando Lopez x2, Sachin Prasad, Matthew Joubert

---

Our women’s team continued their mid season unbeaten run, extended it to three games with their first league victory of the season. They went into the fixture with growing confidence as it was the first time we have fielded a near full strength line up in 2025. The early exchanges saw us dominate possession and chances with Eva Heron breaking the deadlock after four minutes. Our lead was doubled by Shubreet Sran a minute later.

From then on the afternoon was all River City. For the next eight minutes we added another three goals to our tally; another goal from Eva Heron, and goals from Maia Watt and Petra Celebicanin. The home side took a timeout to kill our momentum and it worked as they found the back of the net for their lone goal of the afternoon. It was a little blip on the afternoon as the remainder of the game saw River City add another seven goals in a composed performance.

Match Details

F-League Women’s Round 7

Sunday 21 September 2025, 4:20pm

Elitefoot 1 vs 12 River City Futsal

RCF Squad: 2. Nikki Dawes, 3. Hayley Shields, 6. Briana Rafferty, 7. Eilish Mairhofer, 8. Petra Celebicanin, 10. Maia Watt, 14. Lily Lehmann Harmer, 24. Ashlee Parravicini, 26. Shubreet Sran, 27. Eva Heron

RCF Scorers: Nikki Dawes x3, Maia Watt x2, Shubreet Sran x2, Eva Heron x2, Lily Lehmann Harmer, Hayley Shields, Petra Celebicanin

---

We now have a three week break before we face Crusaders at Foxwell to resume the second half of the F-League season.