Race for top two opens with Industrials win
The race for a top two finish in the Ellinbank District Football League has opened up, with Warragul Industrials scoring a comfortable win over Ellinbank, 11-12 (78) to 4-6 (30).
The Industrials were better suited to the conditions and while they went into quarter time three points in arrears, kept control for the most part on the way to an important victory over a fellow top four side to boost the confidence.
The result sees both sides in the fight with Catani to secure the valuable top two finish, with Neerim-Neerim South still the team to beat at the front of the pack.
With the match played out in slippery conditions, a torrid first term ensued with neither side able to register a major.
Despite Chris Gardiner winning the first tap, it was the Industrials to go forward first but Ellinbank’s Andrew Quirk marked and clear to stave off the first two Industrials attacks.
Ellinbank went forward but the Industrials were able to clear from over the back and move forward on the rebound. Shane Brewster marked and looked for Corey Nickels on the lead, but the Eagles won a free kick for a hold.
Play concentrated between the two forward 50s for some time before Ellinbank went forward for a mark on the lead, but the kick towards goal was rushed.
The Industrials again showed good rebound, moving forward from the kick out with James Hall Nickels on the lead and Shane Ingham collecting the spoils, but again the Eagles were saved by the whistle.
A clever knock on and follow up from Tye Holland led to the next attack, but the Industrials just weren’t getting reward for their effort as the Ellinbank defence cleared again.
Gardiner gathered for the Eagles and looked for a lead, with the visitor awarded a free kick for a push, but the resulting shot swung across the face.
Ellinbank went forward again, but again it was rushed for a minor score.
The Industrials continued to attack and look for their first score, breaking away from the kick out into space, but the connecting kick forward went out of bounds.
The Industrials set up a defensive wall across the middle of the ground to set up another attack, but Ash Wallace drew high contact to win the free kick.
John Ikupu gathered at half forward and looked for Nickels, but he had to deal with two opponents on the lead and the ball was forced out of bounds.
Ellinbank defenders were effective in making good position and defending the ball in numbers as the ball came in, with the Eagles taking a narrow lead into quarter time despite the Industrials doing most of the attacking.
The Industrials were first to go forward in the second term. Tyson Bale and Hall both handled before Travis Ogden spotted up Tye Holland at centre half forward, who had no trouble registering the first goal of the match.
Holland sent the Industrials forward again with Ingham bringing the ball to ground for a crumbed goal from the square.
Ellinbank began to attack against the run of play. Josh Peterson was able to clear in the first instance, but Jayson Barwick, Daniel Barrand, Jackson Parker and Gardiner combined in an impressive chain to find Matthew Barrand on the lead for the Eagles’ first.
The Industrials won the clearance with Hall finding Brewster in space for the quick reply. He was in the action again soon after, but his shot drifted across the face to miss.
The Industrials went forward again through a free kick to Bale, but a flying snap towards goal was rushed.
The Industrials worked forward again with Will Jolley scoring to re-establish a buffer.
Ellinbank looked to respond, with Shaun Phelan juggling a mark, but desperate defence and a smother from Josh Seri allowed the home team to clear, the Industrials holding a 10-point advantage at the long break.
Ellinbank created the first attack of the third term, with Cameron Parker winning a free kick but failing a golden opportunity to convert from a 50-metre penalty.
Peterson found Bale streaming through the middle, who went long looking for Ingham but the Eagles were able to clear.
Ikupu won a free kick for holding the ball and passed to Brewster, but his shot missed.
Ingham snapped forward with a high ball, Nickels flying early and probably lucky not to give away a free kick. Brewster read it best to mark and goal.
Gardiner took a free kick for a centre square infringement, but the Industrials cut off the attack while Ash Wallace prevented another Industrials attack at the other end.
An opportunity was missed when Industrials soccered deep in attack and the Eagles responded, with Ben Wragg setting up play from the wing to allow Daniel Barrand to goal.
Nickels snapped from the front of the pack to respond for the Industrials before Jackson Parker ran into the open goal to reduce the margin and give the Eagles some hope at the final change.
But it was the Industrials who did most of the attacking in the final term to run away with it, the Eagles managing just one behind for the term.
Bale set up the first of five Industrials goals for the term with run down pressure. An unacceptable return of the ball gifted Industrials another.
A mark on the lead and long goal extended the margin beyond five goals. Peterson found Holland in the middle, and he found Brewster in space for the Industrials’ 10th, Brewster’s three goals from the midfield earning him best afield honours.
Ingham capped a strong finish for the Industrials, converting from a mark to push the final margin out to 48-points.