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A MATCH FOR THE AGES

by Sam Gastin (Twitter: @samg186)

CONFIDENCE is a funny thing in football. It is also something that South Belgrave and Forest Hill know a lot about for vastly different reasons.

For South Belgrave it’s hard to imagine a more decorated season. Sixteen straight wins in the regular season was followed by a workman-like defeat of Ferntree Gully.

The Saints made a habit during the 2013 home and away season of beating up on anyone in their path. Forest Hill appeared set to be the final victim.

It turns out someone forget to inform the young Zebras.

Fifteen minutes into the Division 4 ‘Choose Tap’ Grand Final and it became evident Forest Hill was not to be intimidated by its highly favoured opponents.

The Zebras approached the Grand Final on an eight-game winning streak and early goals from Ash Naulty, Brendon Cincotta and Michael Cardamone showed some confidence of their own.

‘We know what we need to do. Nothing changes now,’ Brett Shalders told his players at quarter time in reference to the side’s recent results.

The South Belgrave focus all season has been the on three stars in the forward line. And as Alex Bakens and Leigh Odermatt added goals early in the second quarter, a feeling of familiarity returned to the Saints’ game.

However frustration appeared to be the overriding emotion, as down-field free kicks and a 25-metre penalty aided Forest Hill’s remarkable lead.

If Forest Hill had faith early in the match, its seven-point lead at the main change set the stage for a frantic final term.

This sense of belief was mirrored at the South Belgrave huddle at three quarter time with Dean Burnell stressing he believed in the side ‘more than any other team I’ve been involved with’.

With the game in the balance, the winning culture created by South Belgrave was restored as the Saints started to return to the team it had been all year.

When Lukas Appleby goaled at the eight-minute mark of the final quarter, the Saints appeared to be on their way to victory. Forest Hill had challenged the outstanding favourites, but it appeared their remarkable efforts wouldn’t be enough.

Enter Nathan Jumeau.

The 21-year-old exemplified the efforts of the Zebras, with five minutes that turned the game on its head. Jumeau’s back-to-back goals propelled the Zebras to a one-point lead.

When champion sides are challenged, they rarely back down without a fight and this is something that South Belgrave showed all day.

As this remarkable match entered extra time, the confidence exceeding from both sides for much of the match was replaced by doubt. In 10 short minutes time, one side would experience ecstasy while the other would be left heartbroken.

Game plans went out the window, players were running on adrenalin and everything that took place in the past four months was forgotten.

Alex Bakens was arguably the quietest of South Belgrave’s gun forwards. However when the game was there for the taking the big man stood up and kicked two crucial goals.

The burst from the 29-year-old summed up the Saints’ efforts all year. With so many stars on the field, it was inevitable that one would take control when the match was in the balance.

The sights of the South Belgrave faithful streaming onto the field as the siren sounded signified the meaning of the win, not only to the club, but also to the community.

So expected was the result that the shocking nature of Forest Hill’s efforts increased the excitement of the Saints’ eventual victory.

Forest Hill was well-coached and desperate for victory. However, in the end, the Zebras were left devastated.

South Belgrave finished the season with the result it had desired since Round 1.

And if there’s one thing they’ll take into Division 3 in 2014, it’s confidence.

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