EFNL 2023: Berwick denies fast-finishing South Croydon in four-point thriller

Berwick has dug deep to snap a five-match losing streak in the Eastern league’s top-flight, edging South Croydon in a grandstand finish.

BERWICK has snatched another last-gasp victory in the Eastern league’s Premier Division in what the senior coach has described as ‘huge’.

The Wickers denied a fast-finishing South Croydon at the death, 8.8 (56) to 7.10 (52), after leading by 28 points at the main break and 21 at the final change.

Ashton Williamson’s third goal of the match edged Berwick ahead late in the piece, after the Bulldogs threatened with 3.6 to 1.1 in the final term to wrestle back the lead inside four minutes to play.

Berwick senior coach Clint Evans owed his side’s dominant first half to pressure, setting up the victory as his side weathered the Bulldogs’ final-quarter revival.

“We sort of held them off for the first eight or 10 (minutes of the last quarter) … we were lucky enough to get a free kick in the pocket about 30 (metres) out with about a minute to go and Ashton Williamson put it through,” he said.

“To put ourselves in that position, it would’ve been nice to win by a bit more, but South Croydon are such a good side, they were always going to come.”

Berwick players celebrate their victory over Vermont in Round 1. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s Berwick’s second win of the season from seven starts – snapping a five-match losing streak – drawing level with South Croydon on a 2-5 record.

The result marks a third loss by six points or less for the Bulldogs this season – including a six-point defeat to Balwyn the previous round.

The Wickers’ last victory came against Vermont in Round 1 in a nail-biter and Evans said Saturday’s result would build “confidence and belief” among his charges after falling short in recent weeks.

“Especially with them getting in front and having all the momentum … to get it back, it was huge,” he said.

“We’ve been in a lot of games – last week with Rowville we were even at three-quarter time, Blackburn a couple of weeks ago it was only seven points halfway through the last quarter so it gives the boys a bit of belief.

“(I wondered) if we’d lost yesterday, how the boys would’ve come back from being so close a few times – it was reward for effort.”

The Wickers’ Jordan Roberts held reigning leading goalkicker James Wilsen to two majors in a best-afield display.

“One-on-one he played really well against him,” Evans said.

“We’ve sort of been using Jordy in a lot of different positions … he can play ruck, centre half-forward, anywhere.

“We just thought he was the perfect match-up for him (Wilsen).”

Meanwhile, Matthew George and Brayden Kilpatrick stood out for the Bulldogs.

Berwick, 10th, is away to Balwyn (third) next round while South Croydon, ninth, hosts Doncaster East (fifth).

Berwick 3.3 6.6 7.7 8.8 (56)

South Croydon 1.2 2.2 4.4 7.10 (52)

Berwick

Goals:

A. Williamson 3, A. Vella 2, H. Money, C. Lane, T. Tuck

Best:

J. Roberts, B. Todd, W. Arthurson, A. Williamson, D. Andrew, L. Vaughan

South Croydon

Goals:

J. Wilsen 2, L. Cox, R. Mallison, B. Willis, D. King, L. O’Neill

Best:

M. George, B. Kilpatrick, D. King, L. Cox, B. Willis, M. Helleren