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Square holds off Borough in Princess Park Battle

INSPIRED by assistant coach Nick Carter’s eight goals Golden Square held off hard-running Maryborough in Saturday’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo Fooball League match at Princes Park.

The Bulldogs had to work hard all match before winning 18.9 (117) to 13.13 (91).

Midway through the third term the Magpies closed the margin to one straight kick -– 60-54 --- when Luke Bucknall snapped an opportunist goal after roving a marking contest.

But Matt Brown, even though he finished with three goals for the day, was offline with two snaps as Maryborough again pressed forward.

A banana kick on the run slewed through for a minor score. Then Brown attempted a miracle goal as the ball bounced waist high in a packed goal square and the Magpie forward tried to volley home a major.

The Bulldogs quickly re-grouped with centreman Aaron Hawkins behind the forward thrusts. Nick Carter booted two goals with the second, a torpedo on the run, bouncing through an unguarded goalline.

Earlier in the match it was goal-for-goal. The Magpies led by two points at quarter-time with majors to Cam Skinner, Joel Malone, Michael Noonan and Cameron Rinaldi.

The Bulldogs kept pace as Nick Carter (2), Jason Curtain and Christian Carter nailed majors at the scoreboard end.

The big game held the distinct promise of being a competitive encounter with Maryborough midfielders Malone, Noonan, Bucknall and Matt Johnston running hard to limit the effectiveness of Daniel McLaughlin, Brayden Dorrington, Aaron Hawkins and Chris Malone.

By half-time Golden Square had edged out to a 14-point margin in a spirited battle as Leigh Davies, Christian Carter and Curtain were all on target. Darcy Richards and Glenn Chadwick were effective defenders for the Magpies with strong overhead marking a feature of their games.

When coach Shane Fisher moved Richards to a key forward post in the second half Richards responded by booting two of Maryborough’s seven goals after the long break.

With the game in the balance the Bulldogs added just 3.2 in the third quarter, but still managed to extend their lead to 19 points at the last change.

After closing the gap to one straight kick in a tense struggle, the Magpies allowed the Square to slip clear. Nick Carter was able to elude Maryborough backmen to kick two, crucial majors before the three-quarter siren sounded.

And it was Carter who iced the game in the last term. He slotted four goals in the final 25 minutes --- with youngster Daniel Jones bouncing through a timely Square major, as well --- to wrap up the four, premiership points for Golden Square.

The Magpies fought the match right out with Richards booting a long goal from the grandstand forward flank while Matt Brown took his personal tally to three after capitalizing on accurate passes from Jamie Bond.

Bond was engaged match-long in an absorbing tussle with Square centre half-back Luke Rosa, returning after many weeks on the sidelines with a back injury.

The two big men clashed a few times during the day and although Bond was a key component of Maryborough’s attack, overall honours favoured Rosa on the day.

Square assistant coach Nick Carter said it was great to see Rosa get through the game.

“Luke did a super job on Bondy and it was also pleasing to see three or four young players who hadn’t been tried much before come into our side,” he said.

“And also getting Brayden Dorrington back (from injury) was good too.”

Carter said his players were aware that the Bulldogs faced a tough assignment at Princes Park.

“History shows that coming to Maryborough always means a big game is coming up and we talked to the guys during the week about that,” he said.

GOLDEN SQUARE 4.2 9.5 12.7 18.9 (117)
MARYBOROUGH 4.4 6.9 8.12 13.13 (91)

GOALS -- Golden Square: Nick Carter 8, Christian Carter 3, Jason Curtain 2, Matthew O’Toole 2, Daniel Jones 2, Leigh Davies. Maryborough: Matt Brown 3, Darcy Richards 2, Jamie Bond, Adam Hurse, Luke Bucknall, Cameron Rinaldi, Michael Noonan, Lachlan Edwards, Cameron Skinner, Joel Malone.
BEST – Golden Square: Nick Carter, Daniel McLaughlin, Luke Rosa, Brayden Dorrington, Matthew O’Toole, Michael Bateman, Aaron Hawkins. Maryborough: Luke Bucknall, Glenn Chadwick, Glenn Handley, Matt Johnston, Joel Malone, Jamie Bond.

By Richard Jones

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