The under-14s were the only Highlands team to win at Government Road fields in Yerrinbool, as the all age men, all age women, over-35s men and the under-12s all bowed out in the first round.

The under-14s went ahead courtesy of a cracking opening goal scored by Alex Granada.

Matt Legg scored the team’s second to send them to the break up 2-nil.

Granada stepped up and made the lead 3-nil before Fairfield scored their only goal.

The match finished 3-1.

Highlands FC coach Curt Campbell said striker Granada was the team’s man of the match for his two-goal effort.

The team will match up against a Sydney team or a Griffith team this weekend, pending other results yesterday.

Exeter’s long season ends with a comprehensive loss

AN undermanned Exeter team battled courageously but were outclassed 4-1 by Fairfield Hotspurs in the all age men’s clash yesterday.

Exeter were without a number of key players, including sweeper Duncan Urquhart and goalkeeper Marco Molino and were made to work from the opening whistle.

The Hotspurs dominated possession and field position from the start and scored only minutes into the match when a ball snuck past fill-in goalkeeper Steven Granger.

At 1-nil down, Fairfield looked like wracking up a massive score but Exeter flooded their backline and resisted attack after attack.

But the Highlanders were overwhelmed, conceding three more goals before fulltime.

Damian Strode scored Exeter’s only goal, while the highlight of the match was Granger’s sensational one-on-one save in the dying minutes.

The match wrapped up a successful season for Exeter who made two cup finals, the grand final and won the minor premiership.

Coach Ken Rice said it was disappointing to finish the year without any grand final victories, but said his team would be keener than ever next season.

Rice said he would like the Highlands Soccer Referees Association to continue training the whistle-blowers over the off-season and would welcome an independent review of their on-field performance.

“I would like to see an un-biased appraisal of the referees because I think they have struggled at times this season,” he said.

“I think the standard has dropped off and it could be time for a review.”

The Highlands Soccer Association official end of season presentation night is on Friday, October 2 at the Mittagong RSL.

The night is being held in association with the Highlands Football Club.