NYAH-Nyah West United have returned to the winners’ list with their seventh win of the season by defeating a tenacious Lake Boga by 34 points on Saturday afternoon.
The 13.13 (91) to 8.9 (57) result maintained the Demons’ spot at the top of the Central Murray ladder, although not before enduring a second-half fightback from a gallant Magpies outfit.
Trailing by 36 points and having kicked just one goal from three scoring shots in the first half, Lake Boga took the game up to NNW United after half-time, kicking seven of the next 11 goals to reduce the margin to 15 points midway through the final term, before a late surge from the home side put the game beyond doubt.
NNW United co-coach Jason Murphy was full of praise for the young Magpies outfit, who continue to show signs of improvement with every match.
“We started well in the first half, but we come out after the break half-asleep and (Lake Boga’s) pressure was up and we struggled with that,” Murphy said.
“Their pressure was really good, they took a few things away from us and shifted the ball around and in turn moved us around.
“We certainly didn’t have the game played on our terms, which is a good sign on their part.
“Our structures were set up and they struggled to get through us and get it inside 50 in the first half, which was pleasing for us, but then in the second half they just come out with their pressure and started winning the contest and outnumbering us, their intent was there and ours wasn’t.
“In the end, the difference I felt was up forward, every time we went inside forward 50 we looked a little bit more potent and hit the scoreboard a bit more regularly.
“In the second half, they would have had the better of the inside-50 count, but when we got our opportunities up forward, we took them and managed to maintain that three or four-goal buffer.”
The Demons were aided by another five-goal performance from Brandyn Grenfell, the key forward having kicked 37 goals from eight matches to lead all goalkickers in the Central Murray this season.
Also among NNW United’s better players was midfielder Dom Gallo, who continued his strong season, along with half-back Mitch Grinham, midfielder Ethan Saville, forward Charlie Boulton and ruckman Blake Larkings, who took the points in his 50th senior game for the Demons opposed to David Gourdis in the ruck.
For Lake Boga coach Dean Helmers, it was yet another pleasing result from his developing team, despite the veteran coach admitting it was yet another game where the scoreboard “wasn’t flattering for our guys”.
“We leaked two late goals in the last five minutes and one after the siren, which made the scoreboard not so flattering for us,” Helmers said.
“It just seemed to be the story of the day where (NNW United) would kick a few quick goals and then we would outplay them for big portions.
“It was very pleasing to take on the top side and cause enormous panic, especially in the second half, but full credit to (NNW United) though, they did what they were supposed to do and they got the job done.
“Very positive signs for us though, to be a genuine shot at winning with 10 minutes to go against the top side, especially with Kai Everett and (Nathaniel) Holmes-Brown withdrawing on Thursday night.”
Zac Warne was once again among Lake Boga’s better players with his run out of defence providing his team with plenty of drive, with Koben Ryan, Dylan McCosh, Marty Parsons and Brodie Tonkin in the second half also strong contributors.
NNW United will face off against fellow finals aspirant Balranald in a highly anticipated contest at Greenham Park on Saturday, while Lake Boga will host the Cohuna Kangas.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| NNW United | 4.7 | 6.8 | 9.9 | 13.13 | 91 |
| Lake Boga | 0.1 | 1.2 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 57 |
VOTES
3 – Dom Gallo (NNW United)
2 – Zac Warne (Lake Boga)
1 – Blake Larkings (NNW United)
