South Morang hoping first win of 2016 kickstarts Northern Football League campaign

SOUTH Morang breathed a sigh of relief after posting its first win of the Northern Football League season on Monday against Epping.

NFL footy: South Morang V Reservoir. at Epping 6 for South Morang Wayne Pavitt after kicking a goal Picture: Mark Wilson

SOUTH Morang breathed a sigh of relief after posting its first win of the Northern Football League season on Monday against Epping.

Last year’s preliminary finalist was winless after the opening three matches of 2016 despite competitive efforts against Watsonia, Mernda and St Mary’s.

The Lions broke through for the first win of Dean Grainger’s reign as senior coach in their Anzac Day fixture at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, prevailing 10.18 (78) to 10.4 (64).

“We haven’t been too far away the first three weeks, we haven’t been beaten convincingly,” Grainger told Local Footy.

“We’ve sort of hung in there I suppose. Playing really good team football yesterday was the thing that pleased me the most.”

Skipper Mitch Buckley led from the front for South Morang in the second half, while Nick Johnston’s shutdown job on one of the competition’s top forwards — Aaron Willitts — also drew praise.

After hauls of 10 and six goals over the past two weeks, Willitts was limited to two majors.

“Mitch’s last half was really good, really encouraging because he likes to take the game on and backs himself at every opportunity,” Grainger said.

“I think Johno on Willitts did a fantastic job. He hasn’t played back at all this year, probably for the last two years.”

South Morang led at every change but arguably could have had the match sewn up much earlier after booting 3.8 to 2.0 in the first term.

The Lions will be favoured to string together consecutive wins when they tackle Heidelberg West this weekend.

Epping next faces a difficult road trip to A.K Lines Reserve to face Watsonia.