By Tara Murray
South Morang was switched on and it paid off with the side through to the Northern Football League women’s division 2 second semi-final.
The Lions put in a strong performance against Heidelberg, with the side able to keep the Tigers goalless.
Lions coach Gary Moran said it surprised him how switched on the group was coming into the game.
Many of the players haven’t played finals before.
“They all turned up full of confidence and ready to go,” he said.
“It’s always a good thing.”
That converted on the field, with the Lions kicking three goals in the opening quarter.
There would be only one more goal kicked for the rest of the game, with the Lions winning 4.8 (32)-0.2 (2).
Moran said he was happy with how the game played out.
“They played pretty well,” he said.
“We started pretty strong and kicked three goals in the first quarter.
“We would have liked to have kicked a few more goals, but Heidelberg played well too.
“It was a bit wet under foot, a bit like wet weather football.”
It was all single goal kickers for the Lions, with their experienced players leading the way.
Cherie and Demi-Lee Hallett, along with Cassie Hurst, were named their best.
Moran said they were among the group of players that had been the standouts all season.
“The top five or six players have been consistent for pretty much the whole season.
“They have been the main driving force. Having Paris Schmiedel has added something as well.”
PHOTO GALLERY: South Morang vs Heidelberg
The win sets up a semi-final with VU Western Spurs 2, with a grand final spot on the line. The loser will play in the preliminary final.
Moran said they were looking forward to the challenge of facing the Spurs.
The Spurs, who had the weekend off, are undefeated this year.
The two teams only faced each other once, back in round one, with the Spurs winning 45-0.
“It’s a fairly big task against VU,” Moran said. “We don’t know what to expect and we don’t know how we will go.
“I haven’t seen them play apart from the first time we played them.
“The side we had that day, had five or six players who stood in for us.
“They are a good side, but so are we.”
Moran said they weren’t happy to settle with just one finals win – they were aiming for the grand final.
“If things don’t go our way, hopefully we’ll get another crack at them in the grand final.”
In the elimination final, Eltham defeated Darebin Falcons.
In division 3, Laurimar beat Greensborough.
