EFL 2018: Mulgrave records consecutive wins to boost its hopes of avoiding relegation

A RESURGENT Mulgrave recorded one of the upsets of the Eastern Football League season after a come-from-behind win over Upper Ferntree Gully, giving its hopes of avoiding relegation a massive boost.

Tom Gladman juggles the ball. Picture: Mark Dadswell

A RESURGENT Mulgrave recorded one of the upsets of the Eastern Football League season on Saturday after a come-from-behind win over flag contender Upper Ferntree Gully, giving its hopes of avoiding relegation a massive boost.

The Lions trailed by 25 points at quarter-time but six goals to one in the second term gave them a five-point advantage at the main change.

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The sides traded blows in the second half before Stephen Hatzinikolaou snapped truly from 25m out deep in time on to give Mulgrave a 12.17 (89) to 11.18 (84) win.

Veteran forward Adam Booth starred with three goals, while Hatzinikolaou was the only other multiple goalkicker with two majors.

Mulgrave started the season 0-12 and appeared destined to be one of the two sides to be cut from Division 2.

But the Lions have turned their campaign around with consecutive wins to be just two games from moving outside the drop zone for the first time in 2018.

Captain Dean Siakoulis said the Lions believed they could avoid relegation ahead of winnable fixtures against Croydon and Mitcham in the next fortnight.

“We’ve been in a lot of games and I think as the season has gone on you get closer and closer and once you get that win, confidence in a young group is a massive thing,” he said.

“We’re just looking forward to next week and hopefully trying to knock off whoever is in front of us.

“We’ve been really close and we thought we had a chance against Wantirna South (in Round 12) but poor kicking. Once we got that first thing, anything was possible.”