Roar triumphs in last-gasp win

By Daniel Webb

May 17, 2022

Late winner: Cobram’s division one men celebrate the last-gasp goal. Photo by Christine Osborne

If the sign of a good team is continuing to win with its back against the wall, then the Cobram Roar has once against proved it is superb.

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The men’s division one side may have left it late, but it picked up an important Albury Wodonga Football Association win over Melrose FC in Cobram on Sunday.

The 1-0 victory came courtesy of an 89th-minute goal, with Roar assistant coach Nathan Thomas coming off the bench to win the game.

On the move: Cobram's Nathan Thomas came off the bench to score the winner. Photo: Christine Osborne Photo by Christine Osborne

Roar coach Vince Iannucci said with a lot of players out of the squad, the side was always going to be under pressure.

“Going into the game I didn’t know which way it was going to run but as the game progressed I thought ‘look, we’ll get over the line, I just don’t know when’,” Iannucci said.

Defensive duties: Cobram's Jackson Temarkon attempts to block his opponent. Photo: Christine Osborne Photo by Christine Osborne

“And I had to wait until right at the end.”

The last-gasp goal added drama to an already dramatic contest, with Melrose a top-four side. Iannucci said it was great to get the late goal.

“He (Thomas) is the assistant coach and said ‘I’m good for 10 minutes’ so we put him on for 10 minutes and he scored,” Iannucci said.

Iannucci praised his side’s efforts on the day, with 16-year-old Luke Goodin performing well and Zainul Alibraheem putting in a good shift in his first senior start at the club.

“Everyone did a job yesterday it was a good effort all around,” Iannucci said.

Arm wrestle: Cobram's Bill Puckett battles with his opponent. Photo: Christine Osborne Photo by Christine Osborne

“We’re still grinding out results, we didn’t concede and that’s something that we’re really trying to focus on, not conceding.

“We really want people to come along and get behind the team and the club on a weekend.

“There’s a good atmosphere down there, we’re up and about this year, the women are going really well, the juniors are going well so the whole club’s doing well.”

The Roar will play Albury City in Albury on Sunday, with kick-off at 3pm, and with the June 1 Albury Wodonga FA Cup semi-final getting ever closer, Cobram will be hoping to keep its good form going.