IT was a battle between the two South West District Football League bottom teams with Westerns breaking its drought against Heathmere at Alexandra Park on Saturday.

Having kicked only three goals in total for the first four rounds of the 2022 season, it appeared that the blue and white’s annus horribilis was going to continue, as the visitors got the early jump and ran away to a 23-point lead at the long break.

Whatever Alexandrou said to his team at halftime should be recorded and sent to every club in the land, because the Roos were a different team in the second half, turning their game around to win not only the ball but the match, 10.13 (73) to 9.8 (62).

Heathmere could only add one goal in the second half, after having posted eight before the main break.

Westerns added six goals after half time to earn its first victory for the season.

Westerns coach, Nick Alexandrou said it was important to put in a four-quarter effort in hopes of claiming the breakthrough win.

“All I could ask of them was to give absolutely everything they had,” he said.

“The numbers and depth of the playing list we had for the last two weeks, with no twos and having a struggle in the ones to get a full team, this week we were able to get two full teams and add further depth to our senior side we had competition for some senior spots.

“In terms of our form, the heart and pride of the players that are there each week has never been questioned and the desire to do well for the jumper never faltered and it shone through to run it out in the second half.”

That depth was aided by seven players playing on permit from the Portland Tigers, who had a week off in the Hampden league.

Bryce Koenig, Ash Hill, Stephen O’Brien, Harri Dennert, Zac Duncan and Dylan Barden were outstanding for the home side, as they lifted not only their own output but also that of their team mates too.

“I did have to give the “six best” (players) on the day but that was the hardest decision I had to make, as I could have named all 21 blokes, I was so happy with the way every one of them played and gave it everything they had,” Alexandrou said.

Heywood d Cavendish

Heywood has continued the good early season form that has seen the Lions post four wins from the opening five rounds of the season, accounting for Cavendish by 45 points on Saturday.

Having started the season in winning form in the opening two rounds, the Lions were dragged back into line with a 24-goal loss to Dartmoor, but has bounced back to win the following two rounds.

On Saturday the team burst out of the blocks to score six goals to one in the first quarter to set up a match-winning lead at the first break.

From there the visitors maintained that advantage through to three-quarter time, as the lead blew out to 78 points at the final chance before the Bloods fought back in the last to reduce the margin, 9.6 (60) to 16.9 (105).

Nick Johnstone, Stephen Lovett, James Imbi, Jack Fadersen, Michael Bell and Troy Lovett were again at the head of the best players list for Heywood.

Cavendish were again without some vital players but that is not an excuse that they will use for the loss, as Jonathon Coghlan, Beau Munn, Sean Nippress, Sam Gibson, Harrison Rees and Ashley Nice all refused to be bowed by the visitors.

Dartmoor d Branxholme-Wallacedale

Branxholme-Wallacedale has retained the title of best team outside the top five after another tough, hard contest had the team on the wrong side of the ledger, as the Saints went down to Dartmoor by 35 points on Saturday.

Only Coleraine has recorded a bigger win against the Saints this season, leading by 76 points at the final siren in round four.

While that may sound plenty, it is far from the largest margin that has been suffered by a team to date and the side is not far from being back in the black.

Dartmoor had to dig deep to claim victory, as the Saints refused to go away and the gap at three-quarter time was only 14 points (39-25).

This was after the visitors had opened the game with a winning first quarter and kept the Giants goalless, but they couldn’t maintain that pressure and Dartmoor rebounded with four goals in the second quarter to take the lead.

After the long break, the home side became miserly by not allowing the visitors to record a single goal, conceding just three behinds, as the backs dominated the Saints.

Christian Howlett added another four goals to his season tally, but it was Joey Franklin, Mark Cowland, Jay Ropitini, Blake Devereux, Alex O’Connell and Liam Robinson who were adjudged to be the Giants’ best performers for the afternoon.

For the Saints, Colby Hammond, Ethan Turner, Rhylee Porter, Rhys Wheeler, Travis Scott and Samuel Brewer never took a backward step all game.