Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes jumped into the Riverina League top five for the first time this year with a eight-point victory over Collingullie-Glenfield Park on Saturday.
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The Goannas spoiled the Demons' reunion celebrations with an important victory, 10.7 (67) to 8.11 (59) at Crossroads Oval.
Ryan Price kicked two crucial goals in the final term to give MCUE breathing space as they clung on for their third straight win.
It was a well-deserved win for the Goannas, who led all day bar an eight minute period in the opening quarter, and for five minutes in the third terms with the Demons levelled the scores.
It puts MCUE into fifth position, taking the place of Collingullie-GP, who now drop to sixth spot at the halfway point of the home and away season.
MCUE coach Jeremy Rowe said home and away wins don't come much more important.
"I know it's only the halfway mark of the season but considering where the season's at, there couldn't have really been much more on the line," Rowe said.
"There was a very heavy consequence to win or to lose. The consequence to win was a spot in the five and we're evening the ledger at four (wins) and four (losses) after being at one and four. And the consequence for losing was being three (wins) and five (losses) and being two games out of the five so to get on the right end of it is super for us."
Two first quarter goals from Price gave MCUE a four-point lead at the first change, which grew to a game high-margin of 20 late in the second term.
Collingullie-GP coach Luke Gestier was sent off midway through the second term, shown a yellow at first and then a red after arguing, and left the Demons a man down for 15 minutes.
But two goals in two minutes to Brad McMillan right before half-time closed the margin to seven points, and the Demons continued to stay in touch throughout a seesawing third term, where the feeling really intensified in the contest.
MCUE took a one-goal lead into the final term and it was Price who stood tall, nailing the Goannas only two goals to ensure victory for the Goannas.
It completed a remarkable transformation by MCUE in a matter of weeks.
"After that Ganmain game there was no question we needed to do some regrouping and whilst we remained confident of where we were going and what we could potentially achieve, there wouldn't have been anyone walking around without a little seed of doubt after the Ganmain game," Rowe conceded.
"Then the way we've managed to turn things around after that is super. Now just discussing it in the sheds after the game, we've won in survival mode a couple of times now, we've won well and had a big win in the middle there and I think we won really down and dirty, when you really just had to drag things over the line today.
"I'm super proud of what we've done today, and the last three weeks, and quite simply we can start the second half of the year at even steven and with some confidence and momentum as well, which is nice place to be."
Rowe said he was most pleased with the will to win shown by his team.
"I'm just proud of the fact our guys showed some real resilence and grit," he said.
"There were times where today we certainly didn't look as good as we did last week but when we had to front up and the game asked us questions, we ultimately had the answer and that's what I'm most happy with today."
Blake Chapman was superb in defence for the Goannas. He held Marc Geppert to one goal and had a big last quarter, taking a number of contested marks at crucial stages.
Nick McCormack worked tirelessly through the midfield, while Price's four goals had a big influence on the contest.
The Demons had few winners around the ground and did well to stay in touch when MCUE were on top for large periods of the game.
Tom Keogh was a welcome inclusion and he was effective at centre-half-back, while Dan Kennedy, Brad McMillan and Dereck Singe had their moments.
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