By RORY O’NEILL
COBURG Districts, at 3-2 for the season, welcomed undefeated Moonee Valley to their home at Cole Reserve on Saturday.
Moonee Valley used the breeze and put on three goals in the first seven minutes with Seb Monka dangerous up forward.
Districts human pinball Saad Saad marked strongly up forward and ended the term with two majors.
At the quarter time break, Moonee Valley led 5.4.34 to Coburg Districts 2.3.15.
The Magpies put through the first two goals, giving them a handy break.
However, Saad popped up for two more for the Lions, and with a long bomb from Nicholas Georgeadas, brought the Lions to within nine points of their more fancied rivals.
At halftime, the Valley led 7.6.48 to 5.9.39.
The home side fought hard but a couple of skill errors resulted in goals to Moonee Valley.
In the last five minutes of the third quarter, Stuart Taylor kicked two in a row, which meant that the Magpies held a handy 28-point lead going into the final break.
Coburg Districts scored immediately courtesy of Thomas Lucin, but a quick reply again from Stuart Taylor meant that the Magpies held their break.
Then, with the wind behind them, the Lions kicked four consecutive goals, including another two to Saad who ended up with six for the match.
There were some tense moments in front of the home crowd and lots of action in and behind the Lions’ goal square.
When the siren sounded, Moonee Valley remained undefeated, but only two points separated the teams.
The Magpies remain on top of the ladder with six wins.
After the match, a relieved Magpie coach Peter Gleisner felt that his team showed great discipline and in particular, his defensive players held firm against the tide in the last quarter.
COBURG DISTRICTS | 11.16-82
Best: Fawez Akkari, Fouad Akkari, T. Lucin, J. Fenner, S. Saad
Goals: S. Saad 6, N. Georgeadas 2, J. Fenner 2, T. Lucin
MOONEE VALLEY | 12.12-84
Best: S. Taylor, S. Aberdein, T. Wilson, T. Gleisner, J. Faba
Goals: S. Taylor 3, S. Monka 2, B. Padmore 2, T. Gleisner, J. Faba, T. Edwards, R. Potter, D. O’Connell
