DEMONS REGISTER CONSECUTIVE WINS
Springvale Districts recorded it fourth win of the season, accounting for Clayton by 22 points at The Jack Meade Oval. A large crowd turned out for the Sunday fixture, and it was the home side that made the early running. Kicking with the aid of a stiff breeze, the Clays put on five unanswered goals before we were able to trouble the scorer. A combination of a determined opposition and silly free kicks had the coaching staff worried at the first break.
The second term saw the Demons get the game back near level pegging. Johnny Mac had his hands full against Claytons coach, and Danny McKee was also giving away plenty of size at centre half back. The backline was able to stop the flow of goals and allow the on ballers to slowly get on top. David Ford, playing his first senior game took a courageous mark running back with flight of the ball. His courage was rewarded with a fifty metre penalty and he was able to convert from 40 metres to start the ball rolling. Shortly after, Brendan Ashman took another terrific mark from a Clayton kick in. Unfortunately, an awkward landing meant that was the end of the day for Brendan after rolling his ankle. Luke Swan took the kick for goal and converted from a tight angle. When Brad Heuvel goaled shortly after from a strong mark, the game was back on level terms.
As is often the case with matches affected by the wind, the work you do kicking into the wind is more important than when you have it. Brad Scott, Danny McKee, Luke Woolrich and David Ford were terrific when under siege in the third term.
Brad Heuvel again imposed himself on the game, first by setting up Jay Piggin for a goal, then by placing a crushing bump on a Clayton defender which created a path and goal for Trevor Kumetaitis. Brad Bruni roved a clever goal minutes later from a good contest by Damien Stark. The day was slipping away from the home side, as evidenced when Trevor picked off a Clayton kick in and ran into an open goal as the Clays captain watched on. Although Clayton had their moments with the breeze, our ability to kick goals into it made us the favourites at the last break.
Trevor kicked the opening goal of the last term and it seemed we would pull away. The home side would not be denied and their coach, Richard Szerzyn was still a handful in the last quarter, having three shots at goal. The momentum again swung our way after Sang sensationally chased down and tackled the Clayton skipper after a forty metre run. Luke Swan capped off a terrific individual game with two more goals from strong grabs. In the end the points were ours, but we certainly earned them the hard way. Coach Hughes was pleased with the fact that several players could have been in the best.
The reserves had a commanding 12 goal win in the early game.
Last Modified on 28/06/2009 21:58