Sport
26 June, 2026
Callea winner gives Maryborough exciting 2-1 win
After a late goal handed the Maryborough Soccer Club’s senior team its first loss of 2026 the week prior, Julian Callea delivered a sweet strike of vengeance on Sunday, guiding the blue and whites to a 2-1 victory over Victoria Park with an 88th-minute winner.
With five minutes remaining at Victoria Park, Maryborough were on the cusp of securing a tense three points after Callea put the visitors 1-0 up in the 33rd minute.
That was until the blue and whites conceded a late penalty, which Joshua Pitcher converted to draw the hosts level.
As added time loomed, Maryborough’s talisman snatched victory from the jaws of a draw with arguably his most important goal of the season so far.
Callea’s winner was not only reminiscent of his 92nd-minute leveller to rescue a draw against Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club last season, but it also marks the second year running that Maryborough has inflicted pain on Victoria Park with a late goal.
Trailing 3-2 and down to 10 men, Luke Bucknall latched onto a hopeful long ball to salvage a point for the blue and whites in the final minute of their round 13 encounter with the Vultures last season.
Thanks to Callea’s 20th goal of the season, the blue and whites remain five points clear atop the Ballarat and District Soccer Association’s third division ahead of their home fixture with fourth-placed Buninyong.
Maryborough’s under 16s also had a very successful Sunday, christening their first game at Ron Sinclair Oval with a 3-2 victory over Forest Rangers.
It didn’t take long for Darcy Wood to acclimatise to the new playing surface, putting the blue and whites 1-0 up within two minutes.
After Forest Rangers levelled the scores late in the first half, a quickfire double by Sebastian Sayson and Wood gave Mary-borough a two-goal cushion.
Wood’s brace proved decisive, as the blue and whites survived a 54th-minute goal from Aden Carpenter and a red card to record their third win of the season.
With back-to-back wins now under their belt following their 4-1 victory over the Sebastopol Vikings, the under 16s will attempt to keep their momentum rolling when they take on Ballarat, who currently sit two points behind Maryborough in the standings.