MAGPIES COME FROM BEHIND TO PUSH INTO TOP 5
Andrew Thomson
The Western Magpies notched their second win of the season after a thrilling come from behind 4 point victory over Surfers Paradise at Chelmer on Saturday. The 10-12-72 to 10-8-68 win sees the Pies move into fifth place on the ladder, with a game still in hand.
A south-easterly cross breeze favoured the northern end which the Demons had first use.
The Pies were slow out of the blocks after a 3 week layoff and the Demons took full advantage with the wind to slam on 6 first quarter goals to lead by 29 points at quarter time.
It was only the brilliant marking and defensive skills of Luke Scott across half back in the first quarter that stopped a bigger deficit at the first break.
A rev from coach Glenn Humphrey at quarter time stirred the Pies into action and they started to whittle away at the Surfers' lead.
Beaten in the midfield contests early in the game, the Pies started to work their way into the match with ruckman Dom Beer getting on top and Callum Carseldine, Drew Mitchell and Richard Wenham winning their share of the ball at ground level to drive the Pies into attack.
Key defenders Doug Lawrence and Chris Hunt had their hands full early in the match but both worked hard to restrict their opponents after quarter time.
Matt Davis in his move to half back played a top class game, and with Luke Scott and Sean McEvoy, who was also good in the last line of defence, the Pies only conceded 4 more goals in the final three-quarters of the match, the last after the final siren to narrow the margin to 4 points.
after the early deficit, the Pies narrowed the gap to 9 points at half time with Matt Thompson kicking 2 long goals and majors also to Callum Carseldine and Alex Dickfos.
Surfers again had use of the wind in the third quarter and while the Pies only added one goal they restricted the Demons to 2 goals to trail by 17 points at three quarter time.
The Pies dominated the last quarter as the visitors used a loose man in defence but with the ball continually pumped forward it was a matter of time before the home team hit the front mid way through the quarter. A great running goal from Drew Mitchell, his second for the quarter, was set up by a long run by Sonny Aneet and put the Pies 10 points in front in time-on and they held on for a well deserved victory.
Coach Glenn Humphrey was happy with the side's fight back.
“After a slow start we worked our way into it.
“We worked back into a couple of goals down by half time and then come out and got an early one.
“They were good early, good at the contest and the football, but we were a bit slow and weren’t helping ourselves too much.
“We kicked four goals to one in the second quarter which got the boys up and running and their confidence going.”
The Magpies travel to the Gold Coast on Saturday to resume battle with fierce rivals Palm Beach Currumbin in what should be a quality match.
Western Magpies: 1.3 - 9 | 5.8 - 38 | 6.9 - 45 | 10.12 - 72
defeated
Surfers Paradise: 6.2-38 | 7.5 - 47 | 9.8 - 62 | 10.8 - 68
Goals: M.Thompson 3, D.Mitchell 2, A.Dickfos 2, J.Williams, B.Allen, C Carseldine
Best: M.Davis, L.Scott, R.Wenham, D.Mitchell, D.Beer, C.Carseldine