GSSA 2025: Love’s hat-trick helps high-scoring Caledonian see off Bayswater as Polonia pile on the pressure

As Phoenix sat out with the bye, Albany Caledonian and Polonia displayed their title credentials with high-scoring wins in the Great Southern Soccer Association’s senior men’s league on June 28.

Ladder leaders Caledonians thumped Bayswater 9-0, Joseph Love’s hat-trick and Levi Clay’s double doing much of the damage, while in the other contest, Polonia put six past Rovers, suggesting they are another side to watch as the season hots up.

Calies coach Ben Harris says his team had benefited from Bayswater’s inexperience and long injury list, and the scoreline was flattering to the extent that their final four goals came in the last 11 minutes.

Unfortunately for Bayswater, Gabriel Ang was sent off after 37 minutes for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

“I think they ran out of legs because it was hard work chasing the game with 10 men,” Harris said.

“But we played really well and executed our game plan perfectly.”

Calies’ next outing is against Polonia on Saturday, with Harris suggesting they could cause his outfit serious problems.

“We will have to be really good because if they are on song they are brilliant,” he said.

Polonia served up a timely warning with their trouncing of Rovers, though they still trail Caledonians and Phoenix on the ladder.

Escher Nash grabbed a first-half hat-trick with Reuben Winter, Lucas Bahia and Archie Smith completing the rout.

That gave Polonia ample revenge for their 4-1 loss to Rovers on May 30.

Coach Jared Wiegele said he had wanted a fast start, adding that his side had been guilty of throwing away games in the latter stages.

He was happy this time that his side kept pressing to the end.

“At half-time I impressed on them that if we could score three times in the first 45 minutes, so could they,” he said.

Caledonians enjoyed two victories in the senior women’s competition, beating Denmark 4-0 on June 25 and then Sharks 6-1 two days later.

Libby Morris grabbed two goals against Denmark while Shelley Thompson struck twice against Sharks.

In the other contests, Ebonee Van Burgel’s triple helped Phoenix topple Sharks 4-1 while Stella Cuthbert’s double was enough for Rovers to beat Denmark 2-1.

In the men’s reserves competition, Rovers turned the tables on Polonia with a 2-0 win.

Caledonians showed no mercy to Bayswater, romping to an 11-0 victory.

Hat-tricks for Millie Groenewold and Amaya Dobbe helped Phoenix beat Rovers 11-1 in the women’s reserves with Denmark Rezzies seeing off Caledonian 4-0.

The women’s development competition had victories for Polonia and Mt Barker.

In the men’s socials on June 26, Rovers, Phoenix and Crosskeys enjoyed big wins while Bayswater and Denmark Fairy Wrens shared the spoils 2-2.

Griffins dished out a walloping in the women’s socials with a 10-1 crushing of Denmark Diamonds while Rovers and Sharks drew 1-1.