TONGUES wagged all summer about the new look Nilma-Darnum and with good reason, after the Bombers had an emphatic 19 point away from home victory over the reigning premiers Cora Lynn.
While the margin was small, the visitors dictated play for most of the game, had all the answers every time Cora Lynn posed a threat and produced 14 more scoring shots on goal.
Nilma now head the ladder and is the only undefeated team after four rounds. The Bombers have not been perched on top of the EDFL ladder since 1995.
The game between the two previous undefeated sides lived up the high expectations in front of a big crowd and was laced with many individual highlights.
The match was in the balance until star Sale recruit Brenton Martin steered through his fourth goal at the 20-minute mark of the last term to nail the door shut on the Cobras’ chances. Nilma-Darnum started well with goals by small forward Hasan Kiki, Kael Bergles and Brenton Martin inside the first six minutes.
Cora Lynn hit back with two fine goals by Darren Sheen and another after an acrobatic kick out of mid-air by Luke Hughes to level the scores at the first break.
The second quarter was a ripper that saw four lead changes. The Cobras started where they left off late in the first quarter and with goals by Anthony Giuliano, with an ambitious kick from an acute angle followed by a third by Sheen, the Cobras made it five unanswered goals to set up a 10-point advantage.
Mid-term the Bombers lifted and with five of the next six goals raced to a 13-point lead before late goals by Matt Davey and Ryan Donaldson reduced the margin to a solitary point at the main break. If not for two ill-disciplined acts that cost 50 metre penalties and goals to well performed ruckman Matt Olney and Allan Chandler, the home side could have gone into the big break in front.
Early third quarter goals by Bergles and Harley Lacunes gave the Bombers a 14-point lead which was reduced to 10 points when Donaldson held a strong mark and kicked truly mid-term. In the later stages of the quarter, Bergles again escaped his opponent Tim Crespin to pop through his fourth goal and during time on, a terrific snap by wily rover Jamie Cann gave the visitors a 23-point stranglehold on the game at the last change.
Urged by Coach Chris Toner to play on at all costs at three-quarter time the Cobras heeded his words and played inspired football in the opening five minutes of the final term and with goals by Shane Dwyer, Sheen and Joe Allen, home supporters found voice as the difference was peeled back to only six points.
Nilma centreman Allan Chandler drilled through a steadier at the 11-minute mark before a third goal by the ever dangerous Dwyer again cut the gap to only six points to set up a grandstand finish. It proved to be the Cobras’ final challenge.
From then on the sting went out of the Cobras’ efforts as their legs tired from the hard chasing all day. Over the final 10 minutes the Bombers controlled play and attacked relentlessly and despite another Sheen goal, his sixth, another two goals by Martin saw the Bombers home for their best win in many years.
Nilma deserved victory and showed it is a team to be respected this season. The Bombers won because they had many more contributors and players at the fall of the ball over most contests.
Jamie Cann was in everything and used the ball well to be the best of the Bombers. Ruckman Matt Olney gave his side first use of the ball on a regular basis with some canny tap work.
Harley Lacunes, Shane Youngman and Michael Mooney were architects behind many attacks and Kael Bergles was at his elusive best all game but let himself down with some poor finishing in the second half.
While Nilma did not name their star recruit Mal Michael in the best, he played a huge role across centre half forward, took a number of top marks against his opponent Brendan Kimber, dished out plenty of the ball to his team-mates all game and held the defence together late.
After being jumped early Cora Lynn showed character to keep coming but never quite got into top gear.
Narre Warren recruit Shane Dwyer never stopped presenting across centre half forward and hauled in many outstanding marks.
Darren Sheen was too strong for his opponent Chris Aurisch, despite the later having a good second half. Chad Ingram and Luke Hughes won plenty of the ball and Jason Hall, Ryan Davey, Brad Horazcko, Joe Allen and Jesse Edmond made their presence felt in patches after half-time to keep the Cobras in the contest.
