Casey Scorpions Football Club - Casey Hits the Coast

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December 2011 Issue

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Casey Hits the Coast

by KC at Casey

The Casey Scorpions travelled north for their round 4 game on Saturday afternoon and did just enough to come home with the four points against the VFL newcomers Gold Coast after a tight contest at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport this afternoon.

The game opened in brilliant sunshine and an early free kick to Liam Patrick, a cousin of injured Demon forward Liam Jurrah, saw the home team take the early lead but Casey replied with a nice snap across the body from Paul Johnson.

There was plenty of early heat in the game as the teams went goal for goal and it was not until late in the term that the Scorpions broke through for a goal through Rhys Healey to take a two point lead into the first break.

The players gained some welcome relief with the build up of cloud cover but the improved playing conditions seemed to turn the game into a defensive struggle with several bruising contests.

The game itself remained tight with both sides laying claim to the ascendency. Scorpions Ben Macreadie and Danny Nicholls were working hard on the ball and Paul Johnson dominated the ruck duels. Rian McGough booted a long goal and young first gamer Will Petropoulos added another but the Coasters always seemed to have an answer. Nathan Ablett, who was quiet for most of the game, bobbled up for a mark and his first goal for his club to give Gold Coast a nine-point half time lead.

The Scorpions were fired up at the start of the third quarter determined to show they meant business. Their resurgence was started by a mark and goal from Brad Miller which was answered by a long bomb from ex Magpie midfielder Danny Stanley. Casey then wasted a few opportunities in front of goal but was gaining control in general play if not on the scoreboard until another strong mark from Miller was converted when he kicked truly to give them the lead.

When Miller's partner in crime Michael Newton kicked another from long range the lead was stretched to 8 points. Though not a big lead, this margin seemed a reasonable buffer against a young team that looked to be tiring by three quarter time.

Full credit must go to the defence which held firm for most of the game. Tom McNamara, Kyle Cheney and Michael Stockdale were all but impassable and acting skipper James Wall's strong marking held up many promising Gold Coast forward moves.

The home team refused to give in but the Scorpions had all the answers in the final stanza. It was still goal for goal but the cream finally rose to the top when Jack Watts booted a goal and had a hand in another to Miller.

Casey looked like it might slip away from the Gold Coast but to their credit, they persisted and peppered the goals but they were off their feet by this stage and the visitors came home with an eight point victory to give them a handy well earned 3-1 record at this early stage of proceedings.

It was a real hit and run win for the Scorpions. They had arrived on the Coast on Friday afternoon and by 7pm the team was back on its way to Melbourne.