ST Georges Basin have gone one step closer to moving off the bottom of the table after picking up a 2-1 win against Illaroo at St Georges Basin Sporting Complex on Saturday.
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Despite a strong, physical start from the home side, the visitors were the first to take advantage when they were awarded a penalty.
Sam Leedham made no mistake from the spot and put Illaroo in front 1-nil.
But it was not long before Basin hit back, with some great team work from Wade Garin and Tim Shields setting up Dane McGinn, who slipped it past the keeper to make it 1-all.
With the score still at 1-all at the break, Aldridge stressed to his players the importance of winning the first 20 minutes of the second half.
The home side came out firing in the first 10 minutes, with Aldridge feeling they could well have gone 3-1 up if they had finished their chances.
They continued to take the game to Illaroo and were eventually rewarded when McGinn scored his second goal for the afternoon from a header, putting them in front 2-1.
In a case of déjà vu, the visitors had the chance to hit back when they awarded another penalty for a hand ball in the box.
It was Sam Leedham taking the shot once again, but this time goalkeeper Brandon Labb had other ideas and became the hero by saving the penalty.
The visitors had one last chance to square the ledger in the dying minutes, but missed in front of an open goal, giving the home side their second win of the season.
Basin coach Scott Aldridge had set his side a goal not to finish last on the table and said getting their second win was the best possible response.
“The boys started the game physical and ended the game as they started it, with concentration and commitment shown by the whole 11 players that took the park,” he said.
“We kept attacking and defending until the final whistle, which I thought we never going to hear as the second half went for 52 minutes.
“I have no hair as it is, but the boys were too strong all over the park, coming away with a great win.”
Illaroo coach Andrew Timbs said he was disappointed with the result, but took nothing away from Basin for their effort shown.
“We still had the chances, but just didn’t take them,” he said.
“But to their credit, once they got in front, they were very hard to break.
“We missed one chance at the end that was a bit of a shocker, it was just one of those days.”
Timbs said he thought Angus Hoskin played well in the middle and gave a special mention to Brady Warren who played in all three grades.
Aldridge said all his players have 110 per cent and thought they all deserved a mention.
