EFL 2018: Forest Hill scores its ninth win of the season after a 13-point triumph over Coldstream

IT was perhaps closer than what Forest Hill would have liked but it was a win that coach Martin Stillman craved after a 13-point victory over Coldstream.

IT was perhaps closer than what Forest Hill would have liked but it was an Eastern Football League win that coach Martin Stillman craved.

After consecutive losses against Glen Waverley Hawks and East Burwood to fall to a 1-4 record against top-four sides this year, the Zebras returned to the winner’s list after a hard-fought 13-point victory over Coldstream.

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The margin at the first three changes never got beyond a goal, with Forest Hill not breaking the game open until after three-quarter time when it kicked three of the final four goals to secure a 15.6 (96) to 13.5 (83) victory.

Good to be back on the winners list today @foresthillfc and terrific to have another senior debut Mitch Tomkins Barry 🦓 🏉 @footyefl pic.twitter.com/DSMyvANVYq

— Martin Stillman (@Martin_Stillman) July 14, 2018

Stillman said it was a “must-win game” for his fourth-placed team.

“Coldstream are a very good side, especially on their home deck and I think they’ve pushed Whitehorse and East Burwood,” Stillman said.

“Was talking to their senior coach Chad Rogers after the game and they seem to be able to get up for the top four sides and maybe they drop away against some of the lower sides.”

Forest Hill was without captain Lucas Gibbons, forward Steve Pimm, halfback Harley Burmeister and ruck Nathan Palmer but the quartet will return after next weekend’s bye.

Stillman conceded it would be difficult for his side to crack a top-two finish as it looks to erase the heartache of consecutive Division 4 grand final defeats.

Forest Hill has a 9-5 record and is two games behind second-placed Whitehorse Pioneers with four rounds remaining.

Ian Taylor kicked three goals in the win. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“You have to be a realist and look at the facts that you would suspect that Glen Waverley Hawks, East Burwood and Whitehorse, the top two is more than likely going to come from those three teams,” Stillman said.

“If we win all four games, it depends on what the other teams do, but in reality it is more likely than not that if we play finals we’ll be playing in a semi-final.

“That’s not to say we’ve put the cue in the rack, it’s just that if Glen Waverley Hawks win every game and East Burwood win every game bar one, mathematically it is not possible.”

Elsewhere in Division 4, Andrew Padbury kicked a season-high eight goals as Whitehorse Pioneers pumped Kilsyth by 77 points.

In Division 1, Jake Hammond continued his return to form with an eight-goal haul in Blackburn’s 60-point win over East Ringwood, while Vermont moved a game clear atop the ladder after a 40-point win over Noble Park.

In Division 2, Wantirna South defeated Mitcham by 58 points.