A warm shower after the final siren would have felt twice as nice for Jordan Formosa and his Longwood troops on Saturday.

With the skies suitably dark enough to require the lights to be turned on and relentless rain trying its best to turn the grassy surface of Nagambie Recreation Reserve into a pool, the Redlegs claimed their second top four scalp of the season with a 7.11 (53) to 3.8 (26) victory over the Lakers.

The win makes it six from the past seven for Longwood, much to the delight of coach Formosa, who was perhaps a little understated in his assessment of the contest.

“It was a good game, quite tricky conditions, so it was good to get the win in the slog,” he said.

It could prove a decisive victory come September action, too, with the fifth-placed Redlegs now forging two games clear of sixth spot with two games to play, as they chase their first senior football finals berth since joining Kyabram District League.

Longwood made a bright start in the gloomy conditions, with three first-quarter goals to one from Nagambie handing the visitor a 13-point lead at quarter-time, a gap which the Redlegs were able to widen further to 28 points by half-time after kicking 2.5 in the second term, while restricting the Lakers to two behinds, putting them on course to record win number nine for the year.

“We wasted a few chances early and then sort of got on top for a bit,” Formosa said of his side’s brilliant start.

“(Once on top) we started to take our chances and sort of put a gap on them and then, you know, it's hard to make up the ground in those type of conditions.

“Then we slogged it out for the rest of the day once we hit the lead.”

The horrendous conditions saw the game descend to an absolute scrap as the two sides returned to the field in the third term, with stoppages frequent and clean usage non-existent, resulting in a combined three behinds for the quarter, leaving Longwood ahead 39 to 12 at the final change.

It proved to be an unassailable lead given the weather, with both sides finally finding the goals to each record 2.2 for the final term, with the Redlegs raising their arms in triumph and, probably, relief as the final siren confirmed the 27-point win.

Jye Formosa was best-on-ground yet again for Longwood, continuing what has been a stellar season for the reigning club best-and-fairest, with coach and brother Jordan not far behind, while William Pointer and skipper Dillon Hardy were also influential.

Jordan Bulman earned a spot in the best too, showing a touch of class in the wet to finish with four majors, the only multiple goal-kicker for the Redlegs, while Lincoln Smith nabbed the last spot in the votes.

Two games remain for Longwood and the club is well and truly in the box seat to secure a historic finals berth, not that the Redlegs are resting on their laurels, with Formosa wanting to finish the year off strongly.

“We're hoping to (play finals), but we've got to win our last two games to make sure,” he said.

“That's been the plan probably for our last four or five games, just to try to win and get into as good as a (ladder) position as we can.

“(That way) we have a chance to not only play finals, but hopefully win a final.”

With a 9-5 record the Redlegs sit fifth and any form of points — win or draw — from their remaining matches against Avenel (6-7) in round 16 or Tallygaroopna (2-11) in round 18, either side of a bye, will see them carry on past the home and away season.

In other results on Saturday, Rushworth kept its finals dream alive with a 7.9 (51) to 5.8 (38) victory over Avenel at Avenel Recreation Reserve to move into sixth spot, Murchison-Toolamba claimed a 15.9 (99) to 7.3 (45) victory over Stanhope at Murchison Recreation Reserve, while the match between Undera and Violet Town was abandoned.

Sunday had two games played, with Merrigum hosting Girgarre at Merrigum Recreation Reserve, while at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve the Redlegs took on Shepparton East, however, results were unavailable at time of print.

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Sunday, 9th July 2023

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