EFL 2019: Doncaster East books first place in Division 1 grand final
A matchwinning goal from Tom Appleby with 20 seconds remaining put Doncaster East through to the EFL Division 1 grand final as it looks for promotion to the competition’s top tier for the first time in club history.
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Twenty points down. Eight minutes remaining. EFL Division 1 grand final place up for grabs.
Doncaster East coach Steve Buckle picks it up from there after his side recorded a come-from-behind win over Croydon.
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“We had the breeze with us and just kept plugging away,” Buckle said.
“We just kept trying to get more opportunity and I think they just eventually cracked under constant pressure.
“We kept getting repeat entry after repeat entry.
“We got the ball movement going a bit quicker, got the ball out to the right side of the ground playing the top side of the ground with the breeze.
“I think weight of numbers eventually cracked them.”
Tom Appleby kicked the winner just 20 seconds remaining, but Buckle disputed suggestions his side pinched the win.
The Lions kicked two goals in the dying minutes to score a 9.13 (67) to 10.4 (64) win.
Appleby slotted the winner from 30m on a slight angle.
“I think we had nine scoring shots to two in the last quarter,” Buckle said.
“People can say we stole it and we were lucky but we had 22 scoring shots to 14 at the end of the day so I don’t think we were lucky.
“I just think we earnt a hard-fought win.”
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The three-point triumph at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve put Doncaster East through to its third consecutive grand final.
The Lions were runner-up in 2017 and won the flag last year but were not promoted as part of the competition restructure.
Doncaster East will start as favourites in the grand final, where it will be playing for promotion to the league’s top tier for the first time in club history.
The Lions had trailed by as much as 25 points late in the third quarter when Croydon kicked six unanswered goals.
Buckle said a goal from Jack Sholakis just before three-quarter time “was very handy to get one late”.
“That was a really important and telling goal just before three-quarter time,” he said.
“We went in with a bit of belief and things were starting to work for us again in the middle. We were getting our hands on it and spreading from the contest pretty well.
“I’m not sure if they panicked a little bit. Like I said, it was just weight of numbers in the end.”
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