Sport
15 May, 2026
Maryborough remains undefeated with 4-0 win
The Maryborough Soccer Club has cemented itself as the early frontrunners in the Ballarat and District Soccer Association’s third division with a crucial 4-0 win over the previously undefeated Victoria Park.
With his team holding a precarious 1-0 lead following a tense first half, a quickfire brace from Kynan Carter delivered a decisive blow for the blue and whites.
Scoring goals continues to be second nature for Julian Callea, adding a brace of his own to power Maryborough to a key three points in their season home opener.
After both teams started 2026 with three dominant victories, Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Hedges Oval was poised to be a hard-fought contest decided by critical moments.
Two minutes in, Callea already had his name on the scoresheet, putting Maryborough 1-0 up almost instantly with his 11th goal of the season.
Despite the early breakthrough, both teams found it tricky to create clear-cut chances against their opposing defenders throughout the first half.
When Maryborough and Victoria Park did pull the trigger on difficult opportunities, goals remained elusive, allowing the blue and whites to take the narrowest of leads into half time.
Following the break, Maryborough was searching for a valuable security blanket, piling pressure on the Victoria Park defence.
That pressure awarded Carter a 25-yard free kick less than 10 minutes into the second half, but Carter’s curling shot destined for the bottom corner was saved by Victoria Park goalkeeper Conor McGarry’s excellent diving stop.
Carter was immediately presented with a chance at redemption when Callea quickly took the ensuing corner, which fell to him at the back post.
As the ball fell at his feet, Carter unleashed a sweet volley that fired into the top corner, giving Maryborough a two-goal cushion.
Callum Connor made an immediate impact after coming off the bench midway through the second half, navigating past a sea of Victoria Park shirts before playing a defence-splitting ball to Carter, who made no mistake with a clinical finish to put Maryborough 3-0 up with 22 minutes to go.
Callea sealed the deal in the 75th minute with a well-taken one-on-one against McGarry to give the blue and whites their fourth goal.
With the assistance of defenders James Macer and Neil Smyth, Mitchell Gardam did an excellent job stepping up as Maryborough’s goalkeeper, ending the match with a clean sheet for his efforts.
Alongside its senior squad’s success, Maryborough’s under 16s completed a miraculous comeback against Ballarat North United on Sunday to earn their first win of the season.
After being 3-0 down at half time, strikes from Darcy Wood, Cody Jamieson and Brayden Martin led Maryborough to a memorable 4-3 victory.
Maryborough’s senior team will be back on the road to play Buninyong on Sunday, while the under 16s host Daylesford and Hepburn United at Jubilee Oval.