Blighty and Mathoura, who were both winless in the Picola season heading into round six, met on Saturday.
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The Redeyes had high hopes of being a lot more competitive after they finished the second half a week earlier, but Mathoura surged ahead to take the important win.
“I was hoping to carry a bit of that momentum into this game, but it just didn’t happen,” coach Kyel Bain said.
“We didn’t show up to play, letting Mathoura dictate the game on their terms the whole day.
“I thought the backline did a great job under pressure, but our fitness and skill error is starting to really cost us at crucial times.
“A few positives out of the game was a couple of our younger blokes down back, Isaac Suckling and Henry Michaels, have really stepped up the last two weeks.
“Normally outsized, they have been holding their own, which has been good to see.
“We did have a couple of good passages of play with run and link up, but just couldn't capitalise on them.”
Best on for Blighty was Kevin Maroney playing centre half back and in the ruck all day.
Next best went to Clarence Baird who, once moved to the midfield, was damaging and Kevin Thompson who gives his all every game in the midfield.
Rounding out the best was Luke Charlton who had his best game this year with his tackling and run off half back.
Final score: Blighty 5.8 (38) lt Mathoura 31.18 (204).
A goal to Blighty in the opening minutes of the reserves match against Mathoura instilled some confidence in the side, but it was not enough to cement a strong finish for the Redeyes.
The seconds were expecting a big game, showing in numbers at Mathoura.
After Blighty slotted that first goal in the opening minutes, the Timbercutters struck back with three goals in the first term.
Blighty struggled to get clean possession out the middle, much to Mathoura’s credit.
But the Redeyes did manage their highest score this year.
Ash Bain scored five goals, showing what Blighty can do when they get the ball inside their forward 50.
Final score: Mathoura 11.6 (72) def Blighty 5.8 (38).
Blighty’s best: Josh Sharp, Reilly Webb, Ash Bain and Johnny Mitchell.
With five players missing from Blighty’s regular fourths side, expectations of a win were not high as the squad headed to Mathoura.
Blighty thought it was going to be a tough task, but to the young Redeyes’ credit everyone put in 100 per cent, played as a team and brought home the four points.
A seven goal first quarter set the tempo for the game, with Blighty kicking another 10 goals in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw Blighty try a few different things, with different plays in different positions, and Mathoura made them work harder to win the ball.
In the last quarter, Blighty kept it in the forward half a lot more.
But Mathoura’s backline held up well and made the Redeyes work even harder to score.
Final score: Mathoura 1.0 (6) lost to Blighty 25.16 (166).
Blighty’s better players for the day included Mitchell Grimwood, who “really turned it on”.
He could have kicked 15 for the day, but made sure his younger teammates also got a taste of the ball.
Ash Hines continued to bring his best footy with his skills and run and carry out of the middle. His delivery into our forward 50 was impressive.
Jeremy Doolan had another cracking game, he has the ability just to get in the right spot at the right time, Bain said.
Alyssa Sampson played her best game for the year getting in and having a real crack at the footy.
Logan Andrews, whose confidence grows every game, is starting to turn out to be a very handy footballer, kicking two goals.
Mitchell Bain wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty gathering a lot of possessions out of the middle.
Blighty’s fifths squad headed over to the Timbercutters on Saturday ready to rumble.
If you saw them doing their warm-up lap as a group, they looked very professional.
Blighty thanked Mathoura for putting a team together especially for the day, to allow the youngest Redeyes to have a game.
A single best player was hard to find as the whole team had a great game.
Ari Tremble had a great game, as did Charlie Tremble.
Ben McDonald had his best game yet, Zane Sibraa and Tom Dudley showed their magic, and other good contributors were Clancy Grimwood, Lockie Bain and James Massingham.
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