By JARROD POTTER
EFL DIVISION 1 – Round 13
THEY wanted this one badly.
With the Bulls and Hawks both jostling for position in the top half of the EFL Division-1 ladder, every match has become essential.
Rowville got the leap on the Bulls – requiring the visitors to dig deep and return fire.
After conceding three in a row, the Bulls charged back to boot six consecutively and pushed towards the front, but the close quarters were maintained through the opening half thereafter as neither side could break clear.
The visitors started to overcome the best efforts of the Seebeck Oval faithful after half-time though.
The fleet-footed Bulls’ midfield started the task and set up the forward line expertly. Craig Anderson and Shane Valenti sensationally returned from injury and resumed their battering work through the centre, while at either end Ziggie Alwan and Brett Dore menaced the taller Hawks’ brigade.
Heated exchanges at three-quarter-time resulted in players from both sides being sent off, but by then the Rowville resolve had started to weaken and Noble Park seized the advantage.
While they were outscored in the final term by Rowville, the damage was already done as Noble Park powerhouses Shayne Allan (3 goals), Kyle Martin (2 goals) and Tim Harper (2 goals) finished the job.
Coach Mick Fogarty gave one of his epic post-match pump-up speeches to help set the stage for the Bulls’ run home and he couldn’t have been more pleased with the complete effort of the full team.
“It meant a hell of a lot – it’s this season really – it’s a season to establish ourselves as having a real, serious go come September,” Fogarty said.
“It was a high-pressure game, both sides had a lot to play for.
“We were challenged really early – challenged big time by Rowville and were able to respond and that was important.”
Fogarty thought Valenti, Martin and Harper were dominant through the midfield to earn his best, but thought the whole side deserved credit for the stellar win.
The news only gets better for Noble Park with best-and-fairest midfielder Sam Monaghan and young livewire Kevin Kean set to return after the bye when the Bulls head up the hill to face North Ringwood on 25 July.
