Mansfield has broken its Goulburn Valley League losing streak after outlasting Mooroopna on Saturday.
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The Eagles had fallen to five defeats in a row before Saturday’s Mooroopna Main Oval contest, but kept the fire of their finals hopes flickering with a 21-point win.
It was not easy going for the visitors though, with the Cats keeping pace for much of the clash before Mansfield managed four goals to two in the final term to secure the triumph.
Midfield maestro Brett Mahoney proved the difference for the Eagles, sneaking forward to boot three goals, while coach Andrew Browne was also an important figure.
Tom Gardiner joined Mahoney in kicking a trio of majors, with Brant Anselmi, Lachie Williams and Jayme Rekers also influential in Mansfield’s victory.
The success has the ninth-placed Eagles just two games from fourth position, but with only five matches to go in the season it would take a mammoth effort for Browne’s charges to fly up the ladder quickly enough to taste finals action.
For the Cats the prolonged effort was a positive step after a number of blowout losses in a row, and the likes of Kai Love-Linay, Ajak Dang, Ben Hicks, Jack Lear, Oliver McAuliffe and Ryan Devine were standouts in the performance.
Both outfits will rest up over the Victoria Country bye before Mansfield puts its season on the line again at Euroa’s Memorial Oval and Mooroopna steels itself for a huge clash against the Shepparton Swans.
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