by Kieran Lenders
Seniors: Bunyip Strikers 4 – 2 Rosebud SC
After an embarrassing away defeat to local and fierce rivals Pakenham United the week before on the road, Bunyip Strikers had a day to remember in one of the biggest nights in the club's history.
With a week to forget for the Yippers, a night game at home to league leaders and title favourites Rosebud Soccer Club was always going to be a tough challenge and a windy, wet and cold night at the Bunyip Recreation Reserve would be a very tough place to be playing any sport.
Rosebud's senior team had won 11 matches this season and drawing four of them while also remaining undefeated.
Bunyip on the other hand had only won five, drawing two and losing eight.
Seven spots on the table split the two sides and it would be a David and Goliath battle if Bunyip were to stand any chance of walking away with anything.
The game started pear shaped for Garon Pearce's side, who conceded a goal in just the first five minutes of play.
In what looked to be a start of many goals for the away side, Bunyip's Tristan Durovic was able to tuck away a rapid-fire equaliser to put the Strikers on level pegging.
With chances coming from both sides of the ground and the wind and rain belting the pitch, both sides looked to start putting chances away.
It would be Bunyip who would take the lead through Mark Comini, who put away an absolute gem of a shot into the top right corner of the net with a right foot half volley outside the 18-yard box swinging away from the Rosebud keeper.
Wheeling off in celebration, Comini gave the Yippers a very important lead heading into the break.
Rosebud would show once again why they are the best side in the competition. With multiple counter-attacks, the Roses would go on to have plenty of shots at the Yippers' keeper and vice-captain Jake Biondo who in the past two to three weeks has been instrumental for Bunyip since coming back from a quad injury.
After the break the Yippers came out the blocks with full intentions of not only keeping the one-goal lead but building on it.
Mark Comini was once again the hero for Bunyip as he tucked away a low and hard ball past the keeper into the bottom left corner to make it a two-goal buffer for the tail-wagging Yips.
Bunyip kept pushing and pushing for more goals, having their fair share of shots on target but being unable to capitalise.
With the Roses simply having no solutions to the Bunyip pressure, Comini was able to cap off a wonderful hat-trick and a five star performance as he put away a loose ball from outside the 18-yard box and chip the keeper enough to slot away Bunyip's fourth goal and send the home supporters into raptures.
A feeling that no one would have thought they would have been feeling at the start of the night. A late Rosebud goal would only be consolation as the Strikers causes a colossal upset, stamping a statement to the rest of the completion.
"Bro what a game! The boys gave it everything and we just deserved it today after the past week," said Bunyip captain Dion Pavlic.
Coach Garon Pearce added "we had to be aware of our opponents today and give them a real run for their money."
Reserves: Bunyip Strikers 2 – 1 Rosebud SC
The night started off with a famous comeback win over second place and title challengers Rosebud.
After a very hard-fought first half, Bunyip went down one-nil after a Rosebud player was left unmarked in the 18 yard box.
In-form striker Jay Riley was substituted in the 15th minute after sustaining a ball to the groin making way for Liam McCafferty.
Bunyip centre backs Tyrone Mortier and Jason Stuchbury kept busy in front of the Bunyip goal.
With few chances coming from the Bunyip attackers, Keegan Bloomfield's side had some thinking to do at the break.
After the interval, the Yippers came out strong and firing with fluid, passing based football.
They were able to equalist after substitute McCafferty was able to put away a Ryan Fitzgerald ball over the top to grab a goal, squaring the game and taking the momentum.
Chances at the other end were becoming a regular occurrence for Rosebud as they challenged the Bunyip goal.
Keeper Connor Marks, having a field day in the net, pulled off some amazing saves to keep the home side in the game.
With a through ball floating down the wing, Ryan Fitzgerald was able to smash a ball first time from outside of the penalty area to give the Yippers a lead for the first time in the game.
With tempers flaring and rash tackles flying, the game finished with the Strikers causing an upset and winning their fifth game in a row.
Women: Bunyip Strikers 3 – 6 Old Peninsula SC
The Bunyip women have had a great first season with most of their players only starting to play the game for the first time this year.
Without the experienced and injured skipper Jasmine Williams, Liam Lenders and Lachlan Storai's side have been learning to play without their star player.
Gypsy King has proved to be one of the signings of the year as she scored two goals on the weekend while also scoring her 10th goal of the season.
Alice Horsburgh was also on the scoresheet as she scored her first ever goal for the club on the weekend.
Jessie Turner, Jade Taylor and young gun Makenzie Day have also proved to be very handy inclusions for the club.
It wasn't to be on the weekend for the Yipettes as they went down to a very strong Old Peninsula side.