AFTER 14 rounds of pain, the Wodonga Diamonds broke through for their first win of the season on Sunday.
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Two late goals got the Diamonds home against the Wodonga Heart.
They had their backs to the wall early after the Heart converted a penalty shot in the 23rd minute, but they hung tough.
They had to wait until the 76th minute for Jason Colombera to level the scores, but from the point on the Diamonds were fully into attack.
Josh Young broke through again for the matchwinning goal in the 87th minute.
The understandably thrilled Diamonds coach James Dexter said the win had the potential to galvanise his squad for the rest of the season.
“I thought we were the better team for much of the afternoon, we just couldn’t find a way to score,” he said.
“But once we found the back of the net I think it really broke the game open.
“We were able to get the late winner, this is a really good win for the boys.”
Dexter said the atmosphere in the rooms after the game was electric.
“The boys sung the song like I’ve never heard it sung before,” he said.
“Some of them had to learn the words, being such a young side, for some of them this was their first time singing it.
“But it’s been a fantastic day for the club, our senior side is very young and we have a young reserve side that got up as well.
“We're trying to build something here with these boys.
“We've been unlucky at times this season, but this is one for them to remember.
“When you look at where we were at the start of the season to where we are now, I think we've been improving every week.
“That's all I can ask of a group like this one.”
Central defenders Morgan Kelly and Bailey Dexter were best on ground for the victors.
In other games on Sunday afternoon, Albury City won a crucial clash over their finals rivals Albury Hotspurs at Aloysius Park.
City claimed a 4-1 win on the back of a brace from Chris Sharp.
Michael Townsend's 69th minute goal was nought but a consolation prize for the Hotspurs, who drop to ninth on the table.
Albury United took the points in a hard-fought contest against Melrose, with Caleb Martin's 40th minute shot all that separated the two teams.
Wangaratta were big winners over St Pat's, as were Cobram over Twin City.
Boomers banked an important 3-2 win over Myrtleford thanks to an 81st minute game-winner from Adam Campbell.