Tara Murray
Riddell’s season is back on track after a month of hard fought performances in the Riddell District Football League.
The turning point was a win against second placed Wallan, with wins against the Western Rams, Woodend-Hesket, Macedon and Romsey have since followed.
Having been outside the top five before the Magpies game, the Bombers now sit in fourth spot, three games clear of the three teams fighting for fifth spot.
Bombers coach Justin Belleville said there was a combination of factors that had seen them get back on the winners list.
“We’re travelling okay now,” he said. “We had a few players out and a few guys out.
“It helps getting better players back in, but we never made excuses for that. You’re going to have up and down parts and you can’t win every game.”
Belleville said they had continued to blood younger players with four or five players every week. He said those young guys were starting to hit their straps as they continue to lose other players with injuries and have changes in the side.
On Saturday, the Bombers had to do it the hard way against Romsey, winning 11.9 (75)-8.8 (56).
The win didn’t appear likely at half time, with the Redbacks leading by 25 points and the Bombers having just one goal on the board.
“We couldn’t get going in the first half,” Belleville said. “They beat us at our own game.
“After half time we got things back on track and it was a good team effort in the season half after being five goals down in the first half.”
Haydn Ross kicked four goals for the Bombers, while Matthew Panuccio chipped in with two goals.
Matthew Burkett was the only multiple goal scorer for the Redbacks, with two goals.
Belleville said they didn’t have any winners in the first half, but a number of their leaders stepped up in the second half.
Dylan Tarczon and Ben Sonogan led the way, standing up when they really needed a lift.
The Bombers have the bye this Saturday, with Belleville said it couldn’t come at a better time
He said they were hoping to get four players back from injury, but he was unsure whether they would lose anyone from the game against the Redbacks to injury.
The Bombers face top side Diggers Rest the following Saturday in a massive clash.
In other matches, the Burras overcame a scrappy first half to beat Macedon, 10.9 (69)-3.9 (27).
The Burras, who were missing a third of their best side, kicked seven goals to one after half time to come away with the win.
Wallan continued its good form, beating Melton Centrals, 9.17 (71)-7.7 (49), while Woodend-Hesket beat the Western Rams, 26.9 (165)-3.4 (23) the other game with Josh Pound kicking seven goals.
