MITTAGONG pulled off the upset of the Illawarra first grade season downing second placed Uni 4-3 on Sunday.
Robertson squandered their opportunity to stay in outright fourth with an 8-3 loss to Albion Park and Bowral narrowly lost to Fairy Meadow 4-3.
Playing an under-strength Uni outfit, the sixth placed Lions got off to a great start and led 2-0 after 10 minutes courtesy of Grahame Isedale and Jacob Byrne. The students pegged one back before Ben Garrard gave Mittagong a 3-1 lead.
Uni got themselves back in the game with two late first-half goals to lock it up 3-3 at the break. Isedale’s penalty with 10 minutes to go got the win for Mittagong, and the Lions put in a great effort to keep Uni scoreless in the second term.
The win was only the Lions’ fourth and Uni’s third defeat of 2008.
Mittagong captain Gordon Cole said it was their best game of the season.
“We did a lot defending in the second half but we were pretty happy to keep them scoreless,” he said.
“When they got it back to 3-3 our heads dropped a bit but Timmy Neven in goals and GI (Grahame Isedale) were strong.”
Mittagong were flogged 11-1 last time they played the students, making Sunday’s win a remarkable turn around.
“We have been unlucky over the last few weeks and we now have something to build on,” Cole said.
For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, July 23
sport.highlandnews@ruralp ress.com