Poor Buln kicking gifts game to Longwarry

Longwarry are proving a difficult prospect at home, booting the final goal of the game to win another close one, this time by the barest of margins over Buln Buln.

The Lyrebirds entered the field of play knowing how much it would mean to take home the points, with third spot on the ladder on the line.

Despite again missing Bob McCallum, who has had surgery on his hand, the Lyrebirds would likely be ruing a missed opportunity as they went down 9-6 (60) to 7-17 (59).

A long goal set up by Matt Gray saw the Lyrebirds head into half time with a 14-point buffer in what had otherwise been a goal for goal arm wrestle early.

Jedd Serong had scored early for the Crows before link up play from Trent Baker and Simon Dawson gave Jake Pierrehumbert a good look on his left foot.

The sides traded consecutive goals before a rolling shot through the goal square saw Buln Buln head into the first change with a slight advantage.

Russell Lehmann chipped into Cooper Brown to close the margin again, only for the Crows to gift Baker the easiest of goals at the other end through the agency of a 50-metre penalty.

Jackson Caddy converted from a hold before the late goal from the Lyrebirds pushed the margin to 14 points.

Braydon McHugh kicked truly from a stoppage as the Crows edged closer, only for another 50-metre penalty to gift Buln Buln the steadier.

Next it was Buln Buln's turn to take exception to the free kick, the umpire explaining Daniel Pullen received contact to the back of the head as the Crows levelled score heading into the final change.

Pierrehumbert converted from the pass offered by James Fowler as the Lyrebirds edged ahead again.

The Crows kept pressing and through encouragement from their home crowd in full voice, edged within a goal. Jedd Serong, who finished with three goals, Hamish Busk, Ben Cuckson, Cole Cook and Joel Pope were helping the Crows lift the intensity.

Thomas Axford and Sam Batson were trying their best to deny Longwarry, but a strong contested mark saw the Crows hit the front to set up a tense finish.

Fowler went for a run along the wing as Buln Buln made one final charge, only for the Crows to clear from defence as the siren sounded to deliver a tense one-point win for the home side.

Photographs: Fearghus Browne. Longwarry’s Angus Adamiak gathers up the ball ahead of teammate Russell Lehman as Buln Buln’s Samuel Batson attempts to tackle. Both Lehman and Batson were named in their team’s best.

Buln Buln’s Samuel Batson turns a tight corner with the ball as Longwarry’s Lachie Spinks gets a hold on his jumper.

Buln Buln’s Matt Gray and Longwarry’s Jackson Caddy scramble for the ball.