EFL: Kilsyth upsets Forest Hill to confirm itself as a Division 4 finals contender

KILSYTH coach Paul Newlands is hoping his side’s breakthrough win against a top-four side will prove to be a turning point in the Cougars’ season.

Kilsyth coach Paul Newlands. Picture: Stuart Milligan

KILSYTH coach Paul Newlands is hoping his side’s breakthrough win against a top-four side will prove to be a turning point in the Cougars’ season.

For just the third time since Newlands’ arrival at Pinks Reserve at the start of last year, the Cougars were able to account for a team in the top bracket after a nine-point win over Forest Hill.

Kilsyth led by 34 points at halftime before being kept to two goals in the second half as Forest Hill threatened to pinch a come-from-behind victory.

The Cougars were reduced to one fit player on the bench in the final quarter after Cameron Vanflorestein and Jake Henshall came from the field injured, while Ben Benson was red-carded.

Sean Currey goes up in the ruck. Picture: Sarah Matray

But with just one rotation for the last term, the Cougars were able to hold on in a tense final 10 minutes to record a 9.12 (66) to 8.9 (57) win to close to within a game of the fourth-placed Zebras on the Division 4 ladder.

Newlands said it was important his side took a scalp after consecutive losses to top-four sides Glen Waverley Hawks, Whitehorse Pioneers and East Burwood between rounds 3 and 5.

“We’ve played some good football but at the end of the day we hadn’t beaten anyone above us,” he said.

“I think they are learning we are capable of going fairly deep hopefully, but we’ve all got to be going in the same way.”

Newlands said his side should be confident it can contend for just its fifth finals appearance this decade.

“Even the game against East Burwood, we got down by 16 points but we played terrible football,” he said.

“If everyone is playing the way we’ve played the last couple of weeks and continue to improve and all be driving the same way, I think we can be a contender.

“At the end of the day, it’s all mental with us, I believe, we’ve got the tools and all the capabilities, we just mentally need to be on song.”