LAKE Boga produced one of the upsets of the season when it defeated Koondrook Barham at Barham on Saturday.
A hard-working Lake Boga took the game up to the home side from the start, showing a willingness to run and take the Raiders on around the ground in the opening term.
The Raiders played like a side marking out time after having their finals chances dashed in recent weeks.
While Lake Boga looked like it had a point to prove against a more fancied opponent.
The work rate through the midfield was particularly impressive for Boga, with Jade Pumpa, Nathan Cunning, Kyle Brawn and Nick O’Neill among the better players.
Lucas Matthews was again a standout for the home side.
Three opening term goals to the Pies, including one to Cunning, were matched by the Raiders, with Ryan Evans booting two for the hosts.
The visitors took a one-point lead in to the first change, signalling a challenge for Koondrook Barham.
The arm wrestle continued in the second term, with neither side prepared to give an inch.
Three goals apiece had the sides locked on 6.4 (40) at the main change in a tense struggle.
The feeling for much of the first half had been how long the Magpies could sustain their competitive attacking style against a side that had been a chance to play finals earlier this season.
In an up-and-down year, the Raiders have been competitive against top-five teams, defeating Swan Hill in sensational circumstances in Round 12.
The dynamic finally shifted in the third term. If the Raiders had been anticipating a drop in intensity from Lake Boga it was not forthcoming.
While Mitchell McGowan came in to the match for the Raiders, with a couple of third term goals adding to his tally of three for the day, the third quarter was all about Boga.
Goals to Adam Quigley — who led the goal kicking for the day with four — Joel Dwyer, Oliver Rhode and Nick O’Neill saw Boga slam on six majors to three after the break and build a 17-point lead.
Any chance of a Raiders’ comeback dissipated with a thousand cuts rather than one telling last-quarter blow by Boga.
Both sides managed two goals in the last half hour, with Lake Boga proving more efficient in attack.
Magpie Brad Hutchinson’s first goal was his side’s last and basically sealed the result.
On a day when both sides had 21 scoring shots, Boga’s better efficiency — seeing it scoring 14 goals to 11 — was arguably the key difference.
Yet to highlight that difference would be to do the victors a disservice after a solid four-quarter team effort.
The better efficiency was symptomatic of Boga’s superiority on the day rather than the single difference between the teams.
In the end the Magpies put in an effort that was worthy of the four points and cause for celebration.
With Tooleybuc Manangatang and the Mallee Eagles to come in the next fortnight, another win is unlikely but it is with some hope that the Pies can approach 2015.
The Raiders should win their last game against Tyntynder next week, but will hope for an improved work rate against the competition’s bottom side.
