SCORES:

Bendigo Bombers   1.0  8.5  10.6  12.13 (85)

Casey Scorpions   6.7  8.10  12.13  13.13 (91)

GOALS:

BEST:

LUKE WEST

A GOAL in the last minute to Rian McGough secured the Casey Scorpions a thrilling six-point win over the Bendigo Bank Bombers in their VFL clash at the Queen Elizabeth Oval yesterday.

In what was a battle of two top-four sides with 5-1 records, scores were level at 85 apiece after a behind to Bendigo’s Taite Silverlock with 58 seconds remaining.

From the kick-in, Casey - which started the last quarter 19 points in front - ran the ball down the swimming pool wing, with it ending up in the hands of McGough.

McGough marked 50m out on the scoreboard flank, and with no one in the Scorpions’ forward 50, played on and ran into an open goal to give his side back the lead.

With 32 seconds left on the clock, the Bombers won the centre clearance and sent the ball deep into their forward line.

However, the Scorpions defended grimly, forcing two boundary throw-ins and a ball-up, before the siren sounded at the 30-minute mark with Casey ahead 13.13 (91) to 12.13 (85).

McGough’s match-winning goal was the Scorpions’ only score of the last quarter, and from only their third inside 50 of the last term after the Bombers - coached by Gary O’Donnell in place of the suspended Shannon Grant - had dominated possession.

The Bombers’ six-point loss came after they had earlier trailed by 43 points six minutes into the second quarter.

“We worked hard to get back into the game, but we didn’t switch on for the first quarter-and-a-half, and you just can’t afford to do that in any game at any level,’’ O’Donnell said.

The game was played in a strong, swirly breeze that favoured the Barnard Street end.

Such was the strength of the breeze, of the 176 points scored in the game 136 were at the Barnard Street end.

And of the 89 inside-50s the two sides combined for, 62 were at the Barnard Street end.

Rarely before have I seen players so confident to have set shots from well outside 50 as what they were at the Barnard Street end.

After the week’s rain and three Bendigo Football League games on Saturday, the QEO was in a muddy state through the corridor, with the worst affected areas inside the forward 50 at the Barnard Street end.

Kicking with the aid of the breeze in the first term, the Scorpions used it to get off to a flying start.

The Scorpions had 13 scoring shots to one in the opening quarter as they led by 37 points at the first break, 6.7 to 1.0.

Lynden Dunn, first-gamer Matt Fieldsend and Michael Newton (twice) all kicked booming goals from outside 50 in the first quarter with the wind at their backs.

Bendigo’s only goal of the first quarter was kicked by Irishman Michael Quinn when he cleverly threaded a set shot into the wind at the 11-minute mark.

Against the wind in the second term the Scorpions made a strong start, kicking two of the first three goals in the opening six minutes to lead by 43 points, 8.8 to 2.1.

But after their flat start in which they lacked spark, the Bombers charged back into the contest, starting with a goal to Hayden Skipworth.

Skipworth’s was the first of six consecutive goals in 19 minutes the Bombers kicked to cut the deficit to just five points at half-time, 8.10 to 8.5.

The last of those was kicked by the returning Kyle Reimers, who nailed yet another long-range set shot from outside 50 at the Barnard Street end after the half-time siren.

Earlier in the quarter Reimers provided one of the game’s highlights with his leaping mark over 205cm teammate Christian Bock on the grandstand flank, while Tom Bellchambers also took a flying pack mark inside 50 during the second term, which he converted.

Having lost the momentum during the second quarter, the Scorpions regained it early in the third.

Casey had the first six scoring shots of the third term, kicking 4.2 to lead by 31 points.

But the Bombers again responded.

With goals at the city end at a premium, the Bombers kicked two in the space of two minutes at the 18 and 20-minute marks through Travis Colyer and Jake Carlisle to be 19 points down at three quarter-time.

With the breeze in the last term, the Bombers controlled possession, having 14 inside 50s to three, but they couldn’t convert their opportunities on the scoreboard, and it cost them.

The Bombers had nine scoring shots to one in the last term, but kicked a wasteful 2.7.

The first of those goals was kicked by Skipworth, with Daniher kicking their second at the 21-minute mark.

Daniher’s goal was a brilliant set shot from a tight angle on the grandstand flank that brought the Bombers within two points with 4:59 to go.

Shortly after, Michael Still’s snap from 30m missed, cutting the deficit to one point with 3:36 to go.

With Bendigo pressing hard, the Bombers’ Stewart Crameri marked a clearing Casey kick on the swimming pool wing and passed across ground to Silverlock, who marked 50m out.

With a chance to put Bendigo in front for the first time in the match, Silverlock pushed his kick right for a behind, levelling the scores at 85-all, before the Scorpions’ surged forward and kicked the winner through McGough.

The loss ended the Bombers’ five-game winning streak and has cost them their their position in the top four.

The Bombers’ best players were led by ruckman Bellchambers and defender Tyson Slattery.

The long-kicking Crameri, who started the game in the midfield, continued his fine from, with his second half when he constantly drove Bendigo forward outstanding.

The consistent Skipworth and Silverlock in the midfield and half-back flanker Kyle Hardingham were also among Bendigo’s best.

The Casey side included former Bendigo Pioneer Rhys Healey, who was injured in the first half.

Match statistics:Centre clearances: Casey Scorpions 13; Bendigo 14.

Inside 50s: Casey Scorpions 39; Bendigo 50.