Carew conjures last gasp Magpie victory

DALYSTON snapped a five-game run of losses with a dramatic four-point win over Koo Wee Rup in a game that went right down to the wire.

The script couldn’t have been written better for the Magpie’s Blake Carew in his 200th senior game.

His team, after having had their noses in front all game, had relinquished the lead in a tightly contested last term.

Already tipping well into the time-on period, Blake stood his ground in a marking contest, won the free and importantly drilled the goal from thirty to cap off a fairytale finish for the milestone man.

Sixty seconds later the siren sounded and the celebrations for the black and white began.

This win was an extreme contrast to the 88-point demolition that the Demons served up to Dalyston back in round 1, a game which Blake had missed.

Having copped the earlier wake up call on their home turf the Magpies came prepared to correct the record. 

The game commenced before the weather broke and the visitors started brightly with Hayden Wallis on target with the first two goals.

The Demons kicked the next couple and the point separating the teams at the first break was indicative of the closeness that was to follow.

The rain kicked in from that point and in the drizzly conditions the game evolved into a congested battle. Skill errors were costly and both teams defensively were holding strong.

A goal apiece in the second quarter, a goal apiece in the third, this intense close-in game was on track for a cliffhanging finish.

Dalyston’s two-point lead stretched to eight early in the last, but the Demons banged on the next two and seemed to be holding sway. With all the attacking their side of the centre Koo Wee Rup seemed most likely to threaten. But you only need one opening to let it all slide away and Dalyston found it and capitalised with Blake’s goal that counted the most.

For the record, Blake Carew has been black and white through and through. From kicking the dew off the grass in the Under 13s he has remained a loyal passionate Dalyston player throughout his distinguished career. First appearing in the seniors in 2009, Blake went on to captain the club, is a best and fairest winner, 2015 premiership player and interleague representative and continues to set the standards for his younger team-mates to follow. 

The Pies next cross the bridge to test themselves against Phillip Island while Koo Wee Rup host the Industrials.