Ringwood 0 - 5 Cotchin (386973801)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 66568 had shown up at Maroondah Stadium for the match. Quintin Cromwell was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Tommy Cunego and Jarmo Väntti. People from all over Victoria had joined up for the derby. Ringwood tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Engstål - Carocci, Fjällbeck, Biskup - Chaux, Kelley, Spruce, Alfaia, Bajkić - Doornbos, Sotelo.

Cotchin had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Umar - Osmond, Bökenbarg, Stehrenberger - Ripoll, Madigan, Russo, O'Doherty, Enescu - Mülldorf, Puig Leal.

After a fine move down the middle A. Sotelo nearly gave the home side a goal after 6 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Ringwood created a good opportunity to score 14 minutes into the match when P. Fjällbeck's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. The corner kick from K. Mülldorf was powerfully met by the head of T. Russo to make the score 0 - 1. K. Mülldorf increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 2. After 43 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for J. Puig Leal who increased Cotchin's lead to 0 - 3. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 3. Ringwood claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

Ringwood had to make a substitution after 55 minutes. B. Kelley limped off the field and was replaced by G. Soro. J. Puig Leal of Cotchin took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 59 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 0 - 4. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Cotchin lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed Ringwood's coach gave M. Kirkeby the opportunity the player had been hoping for. P. Fjällbeck reluctantly left the field. K. Mülldorf left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 65 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. R. Lie was the replacement. After 71 minutes G. Soro could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors' keeper. With 76 minutes played, Cotchin put themselves up 0 - 5 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was I. Stehrenberger. R. Lie could have put his team up another goal 77 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Cotchin, with 51 percent of the ball.

The most dominating Ringwood player was without a doubt A. Spruce. G. Soro on the other hand, had a terrible day. J. Puig Leal performed admirably for Cotchin. However, J. Bökenbarg made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 5.