Lakes Entrance’s 2012 East Gippsland Football League campaign is all but shot, the Seagulls a victim of a close season in which losses to sides around you prove costly.
The Seagulls, in losing convincingly to fellow finals hopeful Lucknow on Saturday at home, will now need a minor miracle to feature in any September action. On the other hand, Lucknow has put its case forward for a rare finals appearance and league newcomer Stratford has a sniff of finals footy.
With byes considered, the ladder has Wy Yung in top spot a game clear of Paynesville, and Lucknow third a game further back. The Cats are fourth two points in arrears. Stratford is fifth and a game outside the four holding Lakes to sixth, two points further adrift. Orbost Snowy is on the bottom with one win and out of contention.
In their must-win clash with the Pies, the Seagulls got off to a flyer in the first term as they took an eight-point lead into the first break.
Lucknow then forced a turnaround in the proceedings, with the visitors’ spread around the footy killing the Seasiders. The Magpies booted three goals to Lakes’ none in the second term. Lucknow took an 11-point buffer into the main break.
The Seagulls worked the ball well down the ground and into their attacking 50, but shot themselves in the foot by missing simple opportunities in front of goal with big Seagull forwards Tom Smith and Gerard Kennedy not combining well.
Lucknow on the other hand made the Seagulls pay for all their mistakes, as Magpie spearhead Shaun Ryan made the most of his opportunities in his side’s attacking end.
The Pies were running in numbers and were too strong for the young Seagulls around the ball in the third term, and the Magpies moved further ahead, holding a 15-point lead at the end of the premiership quarter.
Lakes’ back six worked tirelessly all afternoon, with a Matt Dalton move into defence a handy one. He stood out for the home side, plucking everything that went his way in the air.
The Seagulls kept sending it into attack, but the Magpies rebounded out of defence well with Pat St John and Josh Ingram working in sync with each other.
The classy Brenton Martin was too much for the Seagulls to handle, booting four majors in his return to his original home from Sale, while Peter Hopkins and Richard Hood caused the Seagulls headaches in the forward line.
Magpie Joel O’Toole and the Bairnsdale-listed Joel Kelly were good around the ground for Lucknow and sent the Magpies into attack time and time again. Stephen Zappelli was the Magpies’ best, with St John, James Sanford, Damien Hodder, Daniel Evans and Josh Ingram solid performers.
Ben Crittenden and Kennedy booted two apiece for the home side, while Matt Dalton was named best afield along with Beha, Daniel Zammit, Toby Eiseman, Crittenden and Rhys Hubbard.
Last Modified on 02/07/2012 11:05