Sport

Macek hero in finals shootout

By Matthew Kappos

Sep 10, 2026

Abigale Macek saved two penalties with a broken finger to send the Border Raiders to the women’s grand final.

The Border Raiders are through to the grand final, but not before the drama of a penalty shootout.

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In the FV Greater Bendigo women’s League 2 qualifying final, the Echuca Moama side couldn’t be separated from Swan Hill over the 90 minutes, or 30 minutes of extra time.

“The game was pretty 50-50 most of the time,” co-coach Paige Pinson said.

“We couldn't seem to get one in the back of the net, and they couldn't seem to break our back line to get a full shot on. “

“I felt like we were having a few more shots on goals, and their goalkeeper did a cracking job.”

With no other solution, the two teams had to step up to the dreaded penalty spot to decide who would advance to the final, and the locals made no mistake with the pressure on.

All four Border Raiders penalty takers, Elise Atkinson, Jessica Pemberton, Maya Cox and Amelia Richardson, converted, while goalkeeper Abigale Macek rebuffed two Swan Hill attempts to send the Raiders through 4-2.

“We were extremely lucky to have Abigale as our goalkeeper,” said Pinson.

She's actually got a broken finger at the moment, but she played, and she saved two penalties, which was absolutely insane.

“That was some of the best goalkeeping I think I've ever seen, she was an absolute asset.”

Now the locals get a week off, and can enjoy the semifinal between Swan Hill and Castlemaine in the their own backyard, the game held at Jack Eddy Oval in Moama this Sunday.

After taking in the game, the Border Raiders will face the winner for the title on September 20.

“Swan Hill, we'll be definitely be looking at their back line and their forward rotations,” Pinson said.

“They've got a really good system they've got working at the moment, which definitely catches us off guard a few times, as you can see from the results earlier in the year.

“Castlemaine, they've got a lot of experience on their side.

“They're quite an old team, and they're just cracking because of it.

“I've played with them since I was probably 11, some of them, and they're a very strong all-round team.”

The Border Raiders men will also be in action on Sunday in a sudden death finals format, taking on Deniliquin Wanderers, also at Jack Eddy at 3.15pm.

After finishing comfortably on top of the table, the locals will be favoured to advance to the final where they will play the winner of the earlier game between Swan Hill and Colts United FC.