EFL 2022: Bayswater within striking distance of Division 1 top five after come-from-behind win

Second-bottom one week, in the hunt the next. The EFL Division 1 race for the five tightened on Saturday following Bayswater’s last-quarter blitz.

Bayswater’s finals hopes have received a major boost owing to a final-quarter comeback.

The Waters leapfrogged three spots on the Eastern league Division 1 ladder on Saturday, overcoming an 11-point deficit at three-quarter time to sink Beaconsfield 10.10 (70) to 9.6 (60).

It’s a vital win for Bayswater among the tight race for the top five.

It sat ninth of the division’s 10 teams leading into the match, with the result lifting it to a game clear in sixth – just one match and percentage outside the five.

Ashley Vandelaak of Bayswater handpasses out of the pack on Saturday July 2, 2022, in Bayswater, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

Beaconsfield slid to eighth following Saturday’s loss with a 4-8 record, behind Montrose (4-8) and Bayswater (5-7).

Bayswater senior coach Tom Roach credited the final-quarter rush to fitness and taking full advantage of the breeze as his men kept the visitors scoreless.

“They (Beaconsfield) also play a really taxing style of football where they play one-on-one all around the ground, and that’s pretty hard to play, it demands a lot on your players – they might’ve ran out of legs late as well,” Roach said.

Emerging talent Matt Higgins starred in a high half-forward role, while the Waters found several avenues to goal through Paul Haasbroek, Josh Doffay and Josh Treeby with two majors apiece.

Higgins has played five senior matches for the club this season having only just turned 18.

He backed up “45-odd possessions” in the under-19s the previous week with a late senior call-up against Croydon, where he held his own to keep his spot on Saturday.

“He’s played a few senior games, only about 60kg and is only about five-foot-five – he’s quick, agile and reminds me a bit of (Western Bulldog) Caleb Daniel because he’s got really good feet both sides,” Roach said.

“He’s really clever and tackles really well – he probably laid five or six tackles on the weekend.”

Beaconsfield’s Matt Johnson continued his dominant season in front of goal, bagging five to feature among his side’s best, lifting his season total to 28 majors from 12 matches.

Bryce Galvin of Bayswater (left) contest with Harrison Coe of Beaconsfield on Saturday July 2, 2022, in Bayswater, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

The result sets up a monster clash with Mitcham – third on the ladder – this weekend.

“We played them earlier in the year and were up by three goals at half-time ... we think our best footy can definitely challenge them, we go in as underdogs and understand that we have to play our best to be any chance,” Roach said.

“We’ll go in having a fair crack and if we play really well we’ll give them a shake.”