THE Wagin Men's Hockey team played Dumbleyung on the weekend in what was a top of the table clash and would decide who was left a game clear on top of the ladder.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in Dumbleyung but a spot opened up for a turf time and both teams eagerly grabbed it.
Wagin looked like they would struggle for numbers in a game where there were nine regular players missing.
Luckily Wagin has some handy junior players in Bryce Stephens, Wad Enright, Fyn Gell and Terry Anthony who all stepped up and performed well.
The game started at a frenetic pace and with both teams pushing hard determined to get the first goal on the board.
Wagin though had the best chance and looked to have scored in the first five minutes only to see the umpire had blown the whistle and awarding a penalty corner as the ball was hit into the back of the goal.
Ben Hodge was having none of that though as he took the penalty corner and scored giving Wagin the lead.
This was not to last though as Dumbleyung hit back immediately levelling the scores.
Wagin then scored again and Dumbleyung answered.
Dumbleyung then scored again to make it 3-2 at half-time.
Wagin was encouraged to run harder in the second half as they were getting beaten to the ball by Dumbleyung players who seemed more desperate.
Wagin came out after half-time with renewed spirit and it didn’t take long for Paul Ward to level the scores once again.
Ward then scored his second goal giving Wagin back the lead only to see Dumbleyung answer immediately leaving the scores 4-4.
Ben Hodge then stepped up and scored a amazing back stick goal slamming the ball past a stunned keeper and just when it looked like hat may have taken the sting out of Dumbleyung, they ran the ball up the other end and tied the scores up at 5-5.
With 10 goals scored in the game it looked like a draw once again might be the deserved result. With only five minutes on the clock left Wagin had another short corner and this time Hodge trapped the ball and passed it over to Brenden Hall who in the blink of a eye slammed the ball into the net past the defenders and making the score 6-5.
Captain Kellow then went back to defend and Wagin held out the last few minutes to score a remarkable 6-5 victory.
Wagin had good players all over the ground.
Kim Hough and Ben Kirk played brilliantly at fullback along with Shane Bliss in the goals who let in five goals but saved a dozen more.
Brenden Hall and Dale Lloyd provided some good runs in the second half and Alan Anothony was again good at right half.
Paul Ward and Ben Hodge were the difference though both playing brilliant match winning games. Ward showed amazing strength and determination all game creating goals out of nothing and Hodge was his clinical best striking the ball brilliantly all game.
Umpires' best were Ward, Hodge and Kim Hough.
Goalscorers were Hodge three, Ward two and Brenden Hall one.
Wagin is now five points clear on top of the ladder with three games to go.
A win this weekend would go along way to securing the minor premiership but there are some hard games to come against Williams and Warriors.
All players must now do the hard yards at training as there is not much time left in the season and if Wagin wants to make up for there grand final loss last year they have a lot of work to do.
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