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WODONGA Raiders staged the greatest comeback in their 27-year O and M history to defeat Yarrawonga by three points at Birallee Park on Saturday.
Seemingly down and out trailing by 41 points at the seven-minute mark of the last term, Daryn Cresswell’s men stormed home to clinch their most famous home and away victory on the back of a devastating burst from Ross Tungatalum in his first game since round 4.
After trailing by 12 points at quarter-time, Yarrawonga dominated the following two quarters, kicking 9.4 to 3.6.
Craig Ednie and Kayne Pettifer stepped up in the absence of co-coach Brendan Fevola, kicking nine goals between them.
The Pigeons’ lead was built on a solid defence of Connor and Marcus Hargreaves, Wade Lees, Damon Hemphill and Ricky Barnes.
When they kicked the first three goals of the final quarter, the Raiders looked to have no hope.
But Dean Heta went to the ruck and launched an attack no one saw coming, while Tungatalum broke the shackles of Hemphill to kick four goals.
The Pigeons’ grip on the game became shaky and panic set in, despite the efforts of Ednie, Xavier Leslie and Tyler Bonat.
Goals to Hayden Heta and Brett Lefoe closed the gap further as Jack Di Mizio, Sam Murray, Aaron Davey and Stuart Williams lifted.
With just 59 seconds on the clock, Yarran Jaffer-Williams swooped close in to kick the Raiders’ seventh unanswered goal and an unlikely win against the odds.
“When we got to 21 down I was thinking ‘maybe’, but to the boys’ credit they found a way,” Cresswell said.
Asked whether Tungatalum was back to stay, the coach replied:
“He is living with me and has a key to get in but hasn’t got a key to get out, so he’s going nowhere,” he said.
Pigeons coach Drew Barnes was a shattered man after the match.
“We just got away from the structures we had in place early and paid the penalty,” he said.