The Victorian Champions League kicked off again after the Christmas break with Round 11. Everyone looked refreshed and raring to go, with high quality matches across the board.

The South East Cougars Under 13 Boys returned from Wodonga with a 3-1 victory over home side Rivers FC. Rivers were determined to start their new year with only their second win of the season, but the Cougars’ silky skills carried the day. North East Diamonds were too strong for Gippsland, winning 9-0, Western defeated Eastern 5-1 while North West defeated Central 4-0. Northern All Stars came from two goals behind at half time to draw 3-3 with Wimmera South Coast in Ballarat while Southern Bluetongues played out a top quality 2-2 draw with Loddon Mallee Lightning. 

Eastern FC were unable to christen their new ground at the Knox Regional Football Centre with a win in the Under 13 Girls, losing 6-1 to a determined Western Wolves outfit. This was the first in a series of solid victories for a number of sides, though not all matches were as one sided as they appear on paper. North East Diamonds enjoyed a 5-0 win over Gippsland, Northern All Stars defeated Wimmera South Coast Eagles 5-1 at Morshead Park, Southern Bluetongues overcame Loddon Mallee Lightning 4-0 and North West Wanderers defeated Central City 3-0. Rivers FC secured a 3-0 to maintain third spot on the ladder and despite South East looking excellent in patches, the Rivers defence rose to every challenge they were presented with.

The strikers were in fine form for all sides in the Under 14 Boys with every team finding the back of the net over the weekend. Northern All Stars and Wimmera South Coast Eagles both looked sharp in front of goal, with Northern prevailing 5-2 with South East defeating Rivers FC by the same score line. Southern Bluetongues claimed three points at White Eagles Stadium with a 3-1 win over Loddon Mallee, Western Wolves overcame Eastern 5-1, Central City edged past North West 2-1 while a plucky Gippsland side had a 1-1 draw with the fancied North East Diamonds.

Whatever the Central City Under 15 Girls have been doing in training recently has paid off big time, with a stunning 14-2 win over North West Wanderers in a game that looked very even on paper before kick-off. Western Wolves also had a convincing win over Eastern at the home of Football Fives in Knox, running away 5-0 winners. Loddon Mallee Lighting produced one of the most inspiring performances of the season, coming from 3-1 down at half time to overturn Southern Bluetongues 4-3 in a classic game of two halves. A first half strike was enough for Wimmera South Coast to see off Northern 1-0, North East defeated Gippsland 4-1 while South East narrowly defeated Rivers 2-1.

It was business as usual in the Under 15 Boys with five of the top six teams winning their matches over the weekend. League leaders North East Diamonds were the first cab of the rank, playing their usual technical brand of football in their 3-0 win over Gippsland. South East Cougars went home happy after a 2-0 win over Rivers FC while Northern All Stars did the same in their 4-2 win over Wimmera South Coast.  North West Wanderers defeated a 10 man Central City 3-2, Western Wolves defeated Eastern FC 6-1 and a brilliant second half effort saw Loddon Mallee draw 2-2 with Southern.

Wimmera South Coast narrowly defeated Northern All Stars 2-1 in the Under 17 Girls, with Northern probably considering themselves unlucky not to earn a share of the points. Loddon Mallee Lightning retained their three point buffer at the top of the table with a 9-0 win over Southern Bluetongues while second placed North East Diamonds defeated Gippsland 6-1. Western defeated Eastern 6-2, Rivers and South East couldn’t be separated with their match finishing 1-1. The most thrilling match of the round from a neutral perspective would have to be Central City’s gripping 6-5 win over North West Wanderers, with sides trading goals throughout the match in a pulsating encounter.

North West Wanderers put in one of their best performances of the season in their Under 17 Boys, though they were unable to claim any competition points against the disciplined Central City, who won 2-1. Gippsland Knights and North East Diamonds played out a top-class 3-3 draw while Wimmera South Coast were too good for Northern All Stars, winning 7-1. Rivers were sharp at both ends of the pitch in their 4-0 win over a talented South East Cougars side, Loddon Mallee defeated Southern 4-2 despite a second half push by the Bluetongues and Western Wolves overcame Eastern FC 2-0.