Making the long trip into the city, Barossa had the opportunity to move up the table with a win over Sturt, but the result wasn’t what
they were hoping for.
Facing fourth-placed Sturt for the second time this season, Barossa arrived without either of their regular goalkeepers. Daniel Hibbert
took the gloves and produced an outstanding performance between the posts.
Sturt started the stronger of the two sides and looked the more dangerous in attack. Their early pressure paid off in the seventh minute,
although fortune favoured the home side when a deflected shot bounced past Daniel Hibbert and crept just inside the post.
Barossa gradually worked their way back into the contest, with both teams battling hard but fairly through the middle of the park for
control of the game.
While Barossa found it difficult to produce the decisive final pass, they found their breakthrough in the 24th minute. James Ruwoldt
threaded a superb defence-splitting pass into the path of Neil Beach, who beat the advancing goalkeeper before calmly finishing into
the empty net to level the scores.
Unfortunately, it proved to be Barossa’s only genuine scoring opportunity of the match. Both sides continued to battle hard, but neither
could break the deadlock before halftime, with the teams heading into the break locked at 1–1.
The second half became more frantic and physical as both teams searched for the goal that would tip the balance. Sturt regained the
lead despite Barossa’s appeals for a foul during the build-up to the goal.
Barossa pushed hard to find another equaliser but struggled to create space against a disciplined Sturt defence. Just before the hour
mark, Daniel Hibbert produced another excellent save, only to see the rebound fall kindly to a Sturt player, who made no mistake.
Barossa continued to work hard until the final whistle but couldn’t find a way through as Sturt defended strongly to secure the victory.
Daniel Hibbert was named Player of the Match after an excellent performance in goals.
