Magpies withstand the Cobra’s strike

DALYSTON collected their first big scalp of 2023 by taking down perennial contenders Cora Lynn by eleven points at the Cobra Dome.

With four wins on the trot the Magpies are building, and the better teams will be looking over their shoulders realising that a game against Dalyston is no longer a certain four premiership points. 

Saturday’s result showed the improvement the black and white fans have been longing for.

Leading from the outset, Dalyston matched their hosts in all facets of the game. The first term was an even contest with both sides sparring to gain ascendency. Jake Barry posted the first goal, with a steady set shot, to reward the Magpies’ early flurry.

 Joe Alexander and Brad Monson were defending strongly and the team was boosted by Kurt Thomas, returning for his first game, after recovering from his ACL injury. Dangerous Ryan Gillis had a couple of chances to counter for the Cobras but muffed both including blowing a major chance from the goal square.

The scoreboard echoed the inaccuracy of both attacks with Dalyston leading 1.3 to 0.5 to finish the term.

Cora Lynn’s attempts to work forward with a patient possession game fell victim to Dalyston’s willingness to move the ball quick, long and direct to an open forward line.

The triumvirate of key targets, Storr, Wallis and Carew capitalised on the neat entries with a goal apiece in the first ten minutes of the second. Then Mitch Davey joined in on the party, cutting off an errant Cobra kick to add more pain.

Twenty minutes gone off the clock, Cora Lynn’s Nathan Gardiner finally saluted for his team’s first and Gillis soon after found his radar to add another. 

But a late goal, in red time, by Carew was the settler the Pies required as they entered the long break 21 points clear.  

The walls didn’t need ears as coach Shaun Sparks gave his boys a proper spray between halves and in the third term Cora Lynn gave their all to regain a foothold in the contest.

Playing with more urgency they drove the ball forwards at every opportunity with Matthew Briggs and Luke Ryan the catalysts of many forays from their back half.

Six goals were scored in this entertaining period, however it proved to be poor return by Cora Lynn with 3.6 while Dalyston efficiently countered with 3.1 to maintain a 16-point margin at orange time.
With their pressure valve shooting through the roof Dalyston posted the first three goals of the final term. The first to Monson then Storr chipped in two more and the result appeared to be a laydown misère.

To their credit the Cobras didn’t throw in the towel and Heath Briggs, Rout and Monckton started to fire for a late surge.

No beating around the bush, every attack was direct to three-time leading league goalkicker Nathan Gardiner. The behemoth stood tall in the final ten minutes and kicked four on end.

But late desperation acts by Armstrong and Marotta typified Dalyston’s total team buy-in and they remained worthy winners on the day. This amazingly now sets up a top two clash against the unbeaten Sea Eagles this Saturday at Dalyston while the Cobras visit the Goon.