Bulls midfielders Craig Anderson (right) and Stewart Kemperman (above) were at their devastating best against Scoresby on Saturday. By Paul Pickering
SCORESBY’S Eastern Football League resurgence hit a roadblock at Moodemere Street, Noble Park, on Saturday.
The Magpies arrived at the Bullring in second spot on the ladder, full of hope and ready to stamp themselves as a Division One contender.
They left with a 51-point loss to their name – only their second of the year – and an idea of how far they have left to go.
For Bulls coach Kris Barlow, three quarters of irresistible football from his charges made a distant memory of a sluggish opening term.
“I was really happy, because I was a bit worried about having the week’s break,” Barlow said.
“In previous games, we hadn’t come back too well from the week off.”
But after lamenting that his team had played “like millionaires” early on, Barlow was delighted with the way they responded to a quarter-time spray.
“They (Scoresby) were up and about early, and they’d definitely set themselves for that match,” he said.
“But I thought our effort and intensity was great.”
After trailing by 18 points at the first break, Noble’s on-ball division knuckled down to wrestle the match away from an enthusiastic – if occasionally undisciplined – Scoresby unit in the second.
Successive majors to Matt Skehan (two goals), Kris Barlow and Dave Velardo (five) capped an eight-goal quarter and sent the Bulls into halftime with a 21-point lead.
And when Noble livewire Dean Kelly (four) slotted the opening goal 30 seconds after the resumption, a second-half precession looked to be on the cards.
But the Magpies came again, drawing within 15 points when full-forward Cody Morris (three) escaped the clutches of Adrian Little to convert twice only minutes before three-quarter time.
The revival was short-lived, though, as the relentless Bulls surged through the lines to expose a tired and disoriented Magpie flock in the final term.
Noble’s embarrassment of midfield riches was on full display in a dominant last quarter, as Ramy Melhem, Craig Anderson, Daniel Norman, Peter O’Brien and Stewart Kemperman showcased their superior skill and endurance.
Skehan and ruck partner Andrew Gilbert also combined well, causing plenty of headaches for the Magpies when drifting forward.
For Scoresby, fleet-footed wingman Scott Goldsworthy was prominent before lowering his colours to Kemperman in the final term, while Marc Williams stuck to the unenviable task of shadowing Barlow throughout the afternoon.
Equally, Magpie centre-half-forward Steve Pimm booted four goals to keep Lloyd Williams honest, but the Bulls defender was just as damaging on the rebound.
Noble Park travels to East Burwood to face the once-mighty Rams this Saturday.
