In what has been a more than solid start to the season for the reigning premiers, Ballarat dispatched of Warrnambool by two goals when playing on the road on Sunday.

An injury time header to Adam Swards in the second half helped seal the match for the away side, although the majority of the game was played in a much tighter fashion than the 2-0 scoreline would suggest.

Ballarat coach Tony Clayworth said he was pleased to not only come away with a win, but also keep a clean sheet for the hardest road trip of the BDSA competition.

Making the win even more special, Ballarat was forced to use Owen Kean and Dylan Thurgood after they had already played in the reserves match, with usual centre-back Simon Beckett a late withdrawal through injury.

“It’s hard for any team to go to Warrnambool and get a win, let alone keep a clean sheet,” Clayworth said.

“The score probably doesn’t accurately reflect how close the game was played, but we will definitely take it.”

Earlier, Daryl Tauschke converted a header halfway through the first half to put his side on the board, before the Rangers gained the ascendancy.

However, they were never able to convert opportunities into scoreboard pressure.

The result sees Ballarat remain undefeated on top of the senior men’s ladder after two rounds.

In the other two matches for the round, North United defeated Forest Rangers 3-1, while Vic Park claimed a 3-2 win over Castlemaine.

In the women’s division one, North United Black and Warrnambool played out a highly entertaining 3-3 draw.

Isobel Stewart collected a brace and Isabel Wilkinson found the back of the net once for the coastal side, with Jessica Dart scoring twice for North and Jemima Cart also scoring.

The other two matches were extremely one-sided, with Jessica Steike picking up a hat-trick in Sebastopol’s 8-0 over Vic Park and Forest Rangers defeating North United White 7-1.

patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

BDSA SENIOR RESULTS

DIVISION 1

North United 3 (A Moris, E Nuttall, T Beggs) d Forest Rangers 1 (M Jones)

Vic Park 3 (S Jones, L Elsey, P Oduor) d Castlemaine 2 (not supplied)

Ballarat 2 (A Swards, D Tauschke) d Warrnambool 0

LADDER: Ballarat 6 points, Warrnambool 3, Vic Park 3, North United 3, Castlemaine 1, Forest Rangers 1. 

DIVISION 2

North United 3 (T Tebebiowei 2, S Anstis) d Forest Rangers 2 (not supplied)

Castlemaine 2 (not supplied) d Vic Park 0

Ballarat 4 (A Rahimi 2, A Haideri, L Moodley) d Warrnambool 1 (C Pyke)

LADDER: Ballarat 6 points, Forest Rangers 3, North United 3, Warrnambool 3, Castlemaine 3, Vic Park 0. 

DIVISION 3

Ballarat Red 2 (J Mirabella, H Slater) drew with Maryborough 2 (M Costanzo, M Pearse)

Horsham 2 (not supplied) d Bacchus Marsh 2 (not supplied)

Ballarat White 5 (P Frary 2, J Thurgood, G Davidson, T Irvin) d Creswick Orange 5 (D Norton 3, J Steenhuis, D Drew)

Sebastopol 4 (J Robson 3, C Briody) d Creswick Maroon 4 (not supplied)

Daylesford (bye)

LADDER: Daylesford 6 points, Maryborough 4, Ballarat White 4, Creswick Maroon 4, Creswick Orange 2, Sebastopol 2, Bacchus Marsh 1, Horsham 1, Ballarat Red 1, Vic Park 0.

DIVISION 1 WOMEN

Sebastopol 8 (J Steicke 3, L Harvey 2, A Blackburn, C Wylie-O’Brien, D Weinreich) d Vic Park 0

Warrnambool 3 (I Stewart 2, I Wilkinson) drew with North United Black 3 (J Dart 2, J Carter)

Forest Rangers 7 (not supplied) d North United White 1 (not supplied)

LADDER: Sebastopol 6 points, North United Black 4, Warrnambool 4, Forest Rangers 3, North United White 0, Vic Park 0.