Moama keeps the dream alive
MOAMA made its habit of staging stunning comebacks when it mattered most a reality again yesterday with a 13-point win over a spirited Numurkah in the Murray Football League’s second elimination final at Shepparton’s Mercury Oval.
After trailing to half time, the Magpies managed to add 10 goals to the Blues’ eight in the remaining two quarters — including a 21-point deficit midway through the third term — to survive at least another week.
The Mowers will now meet Barooga — which comfortably accounted for Rumbalara on Saturday — at Congupna in the first semi-final.
Having masterminded another great escape Moama coach Simon Maddox called it ‘‘one of our best wins’’ both in terms of the effort required and the emotions stirred by the result.
Lachie Collins was shown a yellow card in the third quarter, reducing the Magpies to 17 men and Maddox said the team was ‘‘right on the brink of being shut down’’. ‘‘We really responded,’’ he added. ‘‘It was a big, team effort. And for someone who’s spent a long time in football, to hang on in the last minutes, that was pretty special.’’
Moama swung the match back in its favour on the back of two six-minute bursts either side of three-quarter time.
Blues fans were ebullient when the mercurial Josh Evans slotted his fifth goal of the game for his side’s biggest lead of the afternoon.
But when the going got tough, the Magpies got going.
Goals to James Scambler and Collins proved the entre´e as midfield dynamo Rhys Archard lifted the Moama faithful with a brilliant running goal.
When Scambler notched his second for the quarter and third for the game, the Magpies amazingly had the lead for the first time.
Earlier skill and decision-making lapses cost the Pies dearly on the scoreboard, according to their coach.
‘‘Our first half definitely wasn’t our best but we pride ourselves on being fit and running games out,’’ Maddox said.
‘‘We knew we’d get a run-on eventually and we had to make the most of it.’’ The Blues had led by a point at quarter time and four points at the half.
A classic, thrilling finish then ensued with Moama taking a fivepoint lead at the turn for the line.
In the race to said line Logan Power broke his collar bone and Noah Wheeler came off the ground with cramp, further reducing Maddox’s deployment capacity.
‘‘We showed character and got the job done,’’ he said.
‘‘Michael Sage going into the ruck turned the game our way. Those centre clearances and stoppages were a big help.’’
Evans somehow conjured a contested mark and kicked truly for number six to put Numurkah back in front by a point.
But it was only a temporary advantage.
When Nick Jackson buttered up and slotted a neat snap from the goalsquare, the Magpies were back in front and this time did not want to let go.
Designated kicker Jade Pumpa’s raking left-boot rung true for Moama before Jake Kilmartin bobbed up like a cork in the ocean.
He showed a cool head 10 minutes into the fourth term to slot two vital goals.
A right-foot snap from the silky Ben Gunning gave the Blues hope and the deficit was just 12 points when Nathan Hicks marked and goaled.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was fitting for Moama that Regan Williams proved the man.
The midfielder drifted forward to take a nice mark and slotted truly.
Williams had been a shining light when things were not going well for the Magpies, with his run, carry and skill a feature of a top class performance.
‘‘When the game was there to be won we grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, which was really pleasing,’’ Maddox said.
‘‘In football there’s no second place.’’
Scambler’s class proved decisive, with Luke Dunham as hard to get past as the Berlin Wall in defence.
Pumpa, Ady Dohnt and Paul Van Der Sluys also provided great spark.