Pakenham’s Seb Paynter takes possession of the ball on the run ahead of desperate Magpie pursuer Michael McGill early in Saturday’s match of the day at Fox Road.By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM put the final piece of its homeandaway puzzle in place at Fox Road on Saturday with a convincing 20point victory over Narre Warren.
The Lions have now beaten every side in the Casey Cardinia League and, barring extraordinary circumstances, will finish on top of the ladder and enter the 2006 finals as hot flag favourites.
Even usually reserved Pakenham coach Michael Holland had a quiet dig at his side’s critics after the game, saying the team had earned its position.
“Top of the ladder doesn’t just happen, it has to be won with hard work,” he said.
“I still don’t think we’ve earned everyone’s respect yet, but to come here and win like we did, maybe a few people will sit up and take notice. I think we’ve earned that now.”
Holland’s team has without doubt earned every accolade it gets and Saturday’s win was the result of its neversaydie attitude, combined with an the superb and largely understated skill level of the 21 players.
In front of another huge crowd, in perfect football conditions, Holland paid the Magpie keys the respect they deserved with defenders Joe Allen, Joel Padley and Glenn Pearson marking Shane Dwyer, Brett Evans and Michael Collins respectively.
Stuart Burridge got the job on star Narre Warren fullforward Lee Clark, while at the other end Magpie defenders Danny Brewster and Steven Kidd picked up Lion goalkickers Simon Ponter and Daniel Fry.
The Lions started strongly, as they have done in the past few weeks, and booted six goals to two in the opening term to take a 20point lead into the quartertime break.
The downside of the term was yet another injury to cocaptain Seb Paynter that saw him benched for the remainder of the day.
Narre Warren reacted to the challenge and ground its way back into the match with coach Aussie Jones leading from the front, assisted by Daniel Field and Clark, who played a lone hand in attack, booting five firsthalf goals.
The difference at halftime was only three points the Lions’ way with the game still in the balance.
Pakenham came out strongly and again booted away by two goals early in the third term, but Narre Warren underlined its improvement and surged to wrest back the lead before going goal for goal with the Lions in the last 10 minutes of the term.
Pakenham led by five points at the final change after youngster Beau Wheeler goaled late in the quarter and the scene was set for a desperate final term.
Enter Lincoln Withers.
The champion Lion assistant coach, who had been good all day, decided that the game had to be won and dominated the contested possessions in the last quarter, imposing his experience on the tiring Narre Warren midfielders, who missed the drive of VCFL rover Ricky Clark.
Together with underrated spearhead Simon Ponter, who booted two telling goals late in the term, Withers and coach Holland led the Lions to a memorable and confidencebuilding victory.
Clark finished the afternoon with eight goals in a superb display in a losing side, while rugged defender Clay Peresso was also among the Magpies’ best players.
Narre Warren chairman of selectors Travis Marsham acknowledged Withers’ influence in the washup, but said Pakenham’s team effort was the difference in the end.
“The cream rises to the top and he stood out to us too, but at that stage of the game we had to win it and we couldn’t go negative,” he said.
“Pakenham plays a good brand of footy, they’re disciplined and welldrilled. Every time our players got the ball they were not allowed the room to play their game. They shut us down and every time our players looked up there were Pakenham players around them.
“A lot of sides have done that to us on occasions this year, but haven’t been able to do that for four quarters,” he said.
Marsham said it was probably Narre Warren’s disposal that let it down throughout the day, but that was pressure and credit to Pakenham.
“They are the best side we’ve come up against and they should be flag favourites,” he said.
Holland singled out Ponter for special praise, but said the selfbelief of his side was its edge.
“We’ve got our confidence up, we’re winning and playing good footy and there’s good selfbelief in the group. I don’t think that needs to change,” he said.
“It was a tough game inside and that’s what we expected from Narre Warren. They’re a very good side. They’re well drilled.
“We got away well, but they continued to come at us right up to the end. You can’t take anything away from them and we will have to play at our best to beat them if we meet again. There’s not much between us.”
