KALANGADOO 4.7 (31) d EAST GAMBIER 3.8 (26)
THE spectacle of Friday night footy certainly delivered a big crowd at McDonald Park as Kalangadoo surprised East Gambier in the third round of the Limestone Coast Football League.
The Bulldogs entered the game as the overwhelming favourites against a side yet to taste victory in 2020.
However, a strong second half allowed the Magpies to surge past the home side and score the win.
East appeared in ominous form early with its midfielders able to hit the chest of key-target Kev Thomson, who went back and kicked the opening goal.
The Bulldogs continued to press forward and Jack Dawe kicked another major from the pocket before quarter time.
Despite falling behind on the scoreboard, Kalangadoo also found plenty of possession and created four scoring opportunities, but missed them all.
The second quarter followed a similar path as the Magpies continued their poor conversion rate in front of goal.
East’s backline proved to be a tough combination to break open with several spoils and smothers shutting down Kalangadoo’s ball movement.
The visitors morale took a further blow after the home side’s leg speed become a factor and Jake McKeon booted another goal to push the margin out to 17 points at half time.
But the tables turned in the second half and the Magpies came out firing to finally score their first goal six minutes into the third quarter thanks to a cool set shot from Ben Mules.
Although the likes of John Forster and Todd Lockwood continued to help the Bulldogs collect disposals off the half-back line, the visitors found answers.
Kalangadoo started to dictate the play and found the rewards.
When Tye McManus turned around the corner and snapped a classy goal suddenly just one kick separated the sides and the cold night air was filled with tension at the final change.
The Magpies drew first blood in the fourth term after Alexander Lyon pounced on a mistake to level the scores.
The pressure mounted as both sides were able to penetrate the ball inside 50, only to be met with strong resistance from their opponents’ backline.
Kalangadoo defender Mitchel Lowe stepped up with crucial intercept marks and proved to be a key link moving forward with pinpoint passes.
One of those kicks hit the chest of Josh Currie in the pocket, who converted the simple set shot to put the Magpies in the lead for the first time.
Another five minutes of tight football followed, but neither team could land the knockout blow.
Eventually Kalangadoo held on to secure the low-scoring thriller by five points.
Magpies’ coach Harry Peacock was proud of his team’s performance and always felt a win was possible even after the disappointing opening half.
“Although we had not scored a goal (before half time), we were happy because we did everything we had worked on,” he said.
“We felt like we were still in the game, so it was just a matter of it turning for us.”
Peacock felt the turning point arrived after a couple of small structural changes up forward.
“I think a couple of moves up forward created a bit more zip inside 50 to get the ball coming in and the defenders worked on what they have been told by Dylan (Ayton) over the last few months,” Peacock said.
“They did not go back to their old structures of playing man on man, they pressed up and put the pressure on instead.”
Ethan Maney and Harry Porter were Kalangadoo’s best players after they executed their roles expertly, while Brad Bryant did a lot of heavy lifting in the midfield.
East was led by Nick Lock, Brad Rathjen and Lockwood.
With a win now under his belt, Peacock said the Magpies are starting to find a method to succeed in the new competition.
“We are starting to learn how the other blokes play their football,” he said.
“We have the skills to match, so it is just a matter of adapting each week.”
