Railways thrill with one-point victory

Railways avoided two consecutive losses to start the new Great Southern Football League season courtesy of a thrilling one-point win over Mt Barker in an enthralling round 2 contest at Sounness Park on Saturday night.

The Bulls led by 10 points at three-quarter-time, the biggest margin in the entire game, but were overrun by a determined Tigers outfit fresh off a verbal spray from coach Wayne Stubber.

Stubber berated his players at the final change after they conceded three goals in the third term, with the home side getting on top and grabbing hold of the momentum.

Josh Alison kickstarted the Tigers’ comeback with his second goal early in the final term and then spearhead Zak Hortin, who was returned from injury, handed the visitors the lead when he jailed a third major of the night.

The Bulls weren’t done with, however, as Ryan Ballard missed an opportunity straight in front to put his side a goal clear, but moments later impressive recruit Nic Chidgzey produced a soccer goal to put them seven points up.

The Tigers rallied again, with Dylan Schorer reducing the deficit to a point with his own soccer goal and then consecutive behinds, the last one rushed from a booming Nathan Woods shot on goal handing them a nailbiting 10.13 (73) to 10.12 (72) victory.

The Bulls were forced to play with 17 men for the first 11 minutes of the last quarter after Brendan Wynne was red carded and reported for striking late in the third.

Confusion reigned when Tigers captain Bodhi Stubber called for a head count after the Bulls replaced Wynne straight away and were found to have 18 players on the ground.

The Tigers midfield lifted considerably in the final stanza, with Craig Frost superb, along with Beau Ewen, Logan Stubber and Woods, while Bodhi Stubber and Coen Marwick also stood up.

The Bulls were gallant throughout, with captain Sam Lehmann the most damaging player on the ground, and he received terrific support from Daniel Dalby, David Stone and Cameron Quenby.

Peter Taylor was damaging around the ball in the first half, as was Chidgzey, and veteran forward Ryan Ballard was in vintage form, booting four goals.

Tigers coach Wayne Stubber said it was important that his side respond in the final quarter and not start 0-2.

“The most pleasing thing was the way the boys stood up in the last quarter,” he said.

“We didn’t have any guys that contributed for four quarters, but in the last all the guys really lifted and we won some crucial centre clearances.

“Mt Barker’s ball movement caught us out a bit, their precision kicking, but our half back line played well and our forward pressure this week was much better.”

Although disappointed at being on the wrong end of a close result, Bulls coach Shane Thompson was proud of his players’ performance.

“That man down in the end probably zapped us a bit,” he said.

“We were 10 points up at three-quarter-time with 17 men and we played an extra five minutes with 17, but it was a taxing game of footy.

“For our footy club and supporters it’s a win — we can take a lot of confidence out of that.

“It was always going to who took their opportunities in the last.

“They had an open forward line and they looked more dangerous in the last term.”