Blackwood have returned to the winners list in thrilling fashion defeating the Hahndorf Football Club by two points at KX Pilates Blackwood Oval in Round 7 of the Police Credit Union Hills Football League. The victory is first for the Woods against the Magpies since the famous 2017 Grand Final and handed Hahndorf its first minor round loss in 62 games with their last defeat coming in Round 3 of 2018 against Mt Barker.

Speaking in the packed changerooms post-match, coach Scott Prebble said it was a really strong team performance which got the side the win. “Today’s effort from every single player was something you should all be really proud of. We went away after last weekend and worked on the areas we clearly need to do.”

“We brought effort and intensity for the four quarters and got the win as a reward for that. What we must now do is believe that if we can do that every game we can be that consistent team, week in and week out.”

The Woods entered the match making three changes with star forward Joel Aish, Henry Spurr and Ben Wender coming into the line. Kicking up the hill in the first quarter, the home side made a fast start with Kai Tucker kicking a set shot goal inside the opening 90 seconds. Winning the first centre break, winger Evan Johnson managed to take a mark on the forward flank. Playing on, he managed to pin-point Tucker in the middle of three Mapgies 20 metres out on a slight angle.

Nathan Laity competes for a mark against his Magpie opponents

With the aid of a breeze blowing down the slope, the Mapgies pressed hard in the middle part of the quarter. Moving the ball long and direct Daniel Zander raised their first goal through a holding the ball against Tyson Clark at the top of the goal square. Another free kick at the 25 metres out through a reversal of a holding the ball call to Nathan Dunn saw Jacob Leake kick the easiest of goals from the goal line. On the quarter time siren, Magpie Joel Parker-Boers converted a long-range set shot to kick the third goal of the term for the visitors and take 14-point lead into the first break.

Blackwood lifted their pressure at the start of the second quarter not allowing any time or space for their Hahndorf opponents. Recording multiple inside 50’s the Woods were unable to register a major as the Hahndorf defence held strong. It took for a clever goal from midfield gun Ben Adams for the Woods to kick their second goal. Winning the ball up contest, ruck Jan Warbout handballed forward to Adams who was able to put the ball straight over the goal umpires’ hat much to the delight of his teammates. Another opportunistic goal to Eduard Van Den Berg from a boundary throws in drew the margin back to three points just before the half time break. Inaccurate goal kicking for the Magpies saw them only register three behinds for the term much to the dismay of their supporters who kept mentioning the inaccurate goal kicking which had plagued their opening games of the season.

The Magpies raised the first goal of the third quarter with crafty forward Cooper Nykamp floating through a set shot conversion from about 40 metres out. Blackwood attempted to shift the momentum stepping on the gas kicking the next two goals through star forward Joel Aish. Pushing the ball forward from a contest, Aish was able to use his body well to hold out defender Joel Leake and take a solid contested mark. Playing on, he was able to dribble the ball through the middle. Late in the term, Blackwood won a clearance on centre wing and pushed the ball forward towards Aish. Taking a clean mark on the lead, he was collected by Joel Parker-Boers after the contest which resulted in a 50-metre penalty. Going back and converting truly, Aish kicked his second of the match and pulled the margin back to two points at three quarter time.

At the final break, the Woods huddle was full of confidence with the momentum. Hahndorf continued to attack winning the first centre clearance of the term. A free kick to Cameron Zander in the pocket from front on contact from Sam Venning saw him go back and take a set shot. Using the breeze, the ball drifted from what looked like it was going to be a behind straight through the goals to push the margin out to eight points. When Matt Waldron was called holding the ball in the goal square, Cooper Hough was able to kick the sixth goal for his side and push the margin to 14 points. Woods forward Jack Lewis who was having a quiet day being well held by Zac Grivell then lit up the game. Winning a free kick after being held out of the marking contest he went back and converted truly to keep his side in the match. Hahndorf got the instant reply through Luke Roberts who took a solid contested mark on the goal line against three Woods defenders.

With plenty of time left on the clock, the Woods players remained confident as they began to win the ball around the contest through the likes of Adams and Van Den Berg. Aish kicked his third of the game in the 16th minute catching Trent Male holding the ball in the goal square as he dived on the ball looking to tie by the play. A contested mark and goal to Jack Lewis as time on approached saw the margin pulled back to four points with only a few minutes left to play.

Eduard Van Den Berg takes control of the play

Hahndorf pushed the ball forward from the next clearance as they looked to hold onto the game. Cooper Nykamp had a chance to seal the game for Magpies as he had a set shot from 50 metres out but was unable to make the distance as the wind pushed the ball into the pocket and out of bounds. The Woods took the game on with Sam Matters winning an in tight handball from the boundary throw in. Finding Ben Adams on the move, the ball was shifted to Van Den Berg running out of half back. Kicking long and direct to space, Joel Aish was able to break away from his opponent to gather the ball 80 metres out from goal. Kicking long to a completely empty forward 50, the ball bobbled around as Jack Lewis, Grivell and Daniel Roberts had an old fashioned 100 metre sprint for the ball. Defender Grivell looked to do the right thing getting the ball to boundary but was called for a deliberate out of bounds in the pocket.

Left footer Lewis took the shot snapping the ball off the outside of his foot straight through the middle of the goals much to the delight of the large Woods crowd in attendance. Blackwood was able to hold on for the final 30 seconds of play as the final siren sounded and end the hoo-doo defeating the Magpies for the first time in 12 attempts.