AFTER a tough fight early the Horsham Demons ran away with victory against Nhill on Saturday. In the end it was 17.16 (118) to 9.12 (66) for the side that travelled down the Western highway.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Horsham coach Louie Dalziel said it was a pleasing win.
“We didn’t play out best footy and it wasn’t a clean game but we are happy to have the four points,” he said.
“The opposition were brought it to us with their pressure and we absorbed it then gave it back to them.
“You don’t need to win pretty every game.”
Nhill was up and about early showing that it was keen to challenge the Demons. The side made the first meaningful forward thrusts of the game but it was Josh Mibus who kicked the first goal of the game for the Demons.
Nhill were created opportunities for itself but a patch of scrappy football as the quarter drew to the close allowed the Demons to jump out to a 22-point lead.
It looked at though Horsham’s momentum would carry on through the second when Mibus slotted a third goal within a minute of play recommencing.
It was soon back to contested football and Nhill took its opportunities to chip away at the lead while the Demons were inaccurate at the other end.
Despite the home side’s hard work another late Horsham goal saw the side win the quarter and extend its lead to 25-points at the long break.
Disposal efficiency and poor delivery into its forward line let Nhill down in the third quarter as Horsham’s class started to show. The side opened up a 41-point lead with a quarter to go.
Nhill coach Alan Bennett said his side applied pressure well in the first half. “We were tackling well but we need to put in a four quarter effort,” he said. “It is hard to maintain that effort when you don’t get rewarded and heads drop.”
Hopes for a home-side comeback in the final quarter rose when two goals saw the margin close to 27-points early in the last. Bennett said he thought his side could have made it interesting if it got one or two more at that stage.
“But we didn’t,” he said.
“Horsham are a quality side and you need to make the most of your chances.”
A clever Mibus goal, his sixth of seven, stole back momentum before the Ryan Kemp soccered home to erase the inroads the Tigers had made.
Joel Geue iced the cake with a fourth and a fifth as the Demons side carried on its early season momentum.
Tyler Blake was best on ground for the Demons. He played a strong game off the half-back line and through the midfield. Jake Harrap bobbed up to kick four important goals and was named Nhill’s best.
