Brick wall: Tom Sheldon was fantastic for Moama down back during its narrow four-point win over Congupna. Photo: Bransen Gibson
Moama has claimed a win for the ages after edging out Congupna by four points in a thrilling elimination final clash at Congupna Recreation Reserve that will surely live long in club folklore.
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Nick Pavlou was one of the heroes for the Magpies, kicking the decisive go-ahead goal late in the fourth term to give his side the lead as they hung on for a 9.11 (65) to 9.7 (61) win.
With the Pies trailing late in the contest, the Sherrin leaked out the back of a pack where it was scooped up by Pavlou, with Moama’s number one getting his boot to the ball and dribbling it over the line.
It was a moment of jubilation for Pavlou, who had missed a shot on goal just minutes earlier that could have given his side the lead.
“I tried my best to lose the game and I tried my best to win it,” Pavlou said after the game.
“I was pretty pleased when I kicked that goal at the end because I thought I owed the team one. I’m just happy that we are in it for another week and I’m looking forward to the next game.
“We probably left it a bit late for my liking, but it was a good four-quarter effort.”
Pavlou’s goal was just one of the key moments in the final term for Moama. Tom Sheldon took a mark Sydney’s Leo Barry would be proud of, going back with the flight and somehow holding onto the ball after getting ploughed by a charging Daniel Campbell.
Defence: Tom Sheldon lays a tackle inside Moama’s defensive 50. Photo: Bransen Gibson
And Callum Doyle laid a crucial tackle late on, earning a free kick for holding the ball that denied Congupna a last-ditch entry into their attacking 50.
Having already lost to the Road twice this season, it seemed like Congupna had Moama’s number yet again early on as they booted the opening four goals of the game.
It took the Pies 26 minutes to get their first major of the game, a goal that had the margin at 18 points at the end of the first term.
That goal sparked a Moama resurgence, as the Pies kicked five goals to three in the second term to again trim the deficit at half time.
The two sides traded goals in the third term, with the Road extending the margin back out to 18 points before Moama again answered back, trailing by six points at the final change.
On the run: Moama's Fraser Buchanan kicks the ball inside 50. Photo: Bransen Gibson
Moama coach Sam Sheldon rallied his troops at three-quarter-time, firing the group up with an inspirational message.
“Now is the time to go, do not hold back now boys,” Sheldon said. “Do not relent, we will break them.”
The message rung true, with Moama attacking the ball with a determined ferocity throughout the final term.
Moama hit the front but Congupna answered right back to snatch the lead again, but the Magpies would not be denied.
Pavlou’s fourth goal of the afternoon gave them the lead, with the Pies fighting hard across the park to hold on for a memorable victory.
“We were saying all day we just wanted to be within a goal of them at three-quarter time and we put ourselves in that spot,” Pavlou said.
Breaking free: Congupna’s Adam McCurdy does his best to shake a tackle during the elimination final against Moama. Photo: Bransen Gibson
“It was just about grinding it out and playing tough footy. We know we might not be the most skilled team, but when our pressure is on we are tough to beat.
“They played really good footy and I thought we played really good footy, and we are really happy to be able to scrape through at the end there.
Pavlou said the result would give Moama a huge boost heading into next weekend’s semi-final clash against Tongala.
“I think it is massive for our group. We have a lot of young blokes who haven’t played finals footy before and you could tell before the game a few blokes were a bit nervous,” he said
“Congupna had our measure twice this year and I think we’ll be going into the game against Tonny this week full of confident that our best footy stands up to theirs.”
Pavlou put in a best-on-ground performance, while Thomas Sheldon, Ned Osborne and Jordan Ives played crucial roles for Moama.
Sheldon and Josh Vick were great in defence, holding Murray League leading golakicker Daniel Campbell to just one major on the day.
Moama belted out the club song with plenty of gusto after the final siren, but their attention will now turn to Tongala, with the two sides to face off for the third time this season in this weekend’s semi final.
