MATCH REPORT vs Bendigo (Round 
Coburg websiteCoburg have moved up to just one game outside the top 8 after a tight win over Bendigo on the weekend. The winless 'Gold' gave the Tigers a mighty scare when they hit the front with just minutes remaining, but a few of Coburg's cooler heads managed to steady and hold on for an unconvincing, but crucial victory.
Coburg took control of the game from the first bounce, and had the majority of possession for the entire quarter without being able to fully capitalise. The Tigers kicked 4.9 for the term with a number of those behinds being very gettable. Richmond player Reece Conca looked to be in scintillating form after coming back from injury, winning a heap of ball through the middle and looking the most composed in wet and scrappy conditions.
Bendigo made Coburg pay for not taking their chances in the second quarter, they began to finally win some ball through the middle and managed to kick 3 goals to 2 for the term, in what was turning in to a very fiery and competitive match. Once again, Coburg's score for the quarter did not reflect their inside 50 chances and they went in to half time 6.12.48 to 5.10.40, just 8 points ahead.
The third quarter started in a very similar fashion to the second; a lot of contested ball through the middle, scrappy forward 50 entries and a lot of hot headed individuals for both teams. It remained tight for the entire term, going goal for goal until eventually, after kicking 3 goals each, Coburg went in to the final change 11 points up. Captain Nick Carnell and backman turned forward Ben Griffiths looked the most likely to regain the ascendancy for Coburg, with Griffiths looking a huge threat at half forward and Carnell winning a heap of tough contested ball. Nahas and McGuane also loomed as contant threats.
After last weeks 175 point loss, and their winless start to the season, many expected it was only a matter of time before Bendigo's pressure weakened and Coburg would kick away to an easy win. The final term showed this wasn't to be the case however, with Bendigo coming out looking like a team with something to prove and if anything, increasing the pressure from the past 3 quarters. Coburg fans and players were given a major scare when the visitors took the lead through a snap from their captain, with about 5 minutes to go. This goal came just minutes after a miraculous goal from Robin Nahas from the pocket, which looked to be the game sealer. With Bendigo holding the narrowest of leads and the clock ticking in to injury time it looked as if a major upset was on the cards, until youngster Nick Maric was awarded a free kick 40m out directly in front for a high tackle. The impressive Maric made no mistake with the set shot and this seemed to help Coburg regain their composure for the final few minutes, managing to kick one more and really stamp out any hope of a Bendigo come back, winning in the end by 10 points.
Coburg players showed more relief than joy after the win, knowing that they very nearly gave up a crucial 4 points heading in to their bye. The win did show good resilience in the end however, managing to hold off a Bendigo side who were giving their absolute all to get their first win as a club on the board. The win puts Coburg at 10th spot on the ladder, just one win outside the 8 but with the bye coming up this weekend.
Coburg 11.22.88
Bendigo11.12.78
GOALS: McBean, McGuane 2, Nahas, Elton, Griffiths, Grgic, Maric, Venditti, O'Hanlon 1.
BEST: Stephenson, Carnell, Griffiths, Conca, Arnot, Nahas.
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