BARNAWARTHA match-winner Peter Cook kicked a goal after the siren to hand his side a thrilling draw against Kiewa-Sandy Creek at Tangambalanga on Saturday.
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With the home side leading by six-points in the dying seconds, Cook laid an inspirational tackle and was awarded a free kick.
As he walked back to take his set shot 30m out, directly in front the siren sounded.
Cook coolly slotted his eighth goal of the match to snatch a thrilling draw.
"I knew as soon as I kicked the ball that I hit it pretty well and it was going through for a goal," Cook said.
"But it is a bittersweet feeling having a draw.
"From a coaching perspective we had our chances.
"We were four goals up half-way through the second quarter and three goals up early in the last quarter.
"So from that position we should have really won.
"But then they got two goals in front with not long remaining and you think to yourself that we probably should of lost.
"I was really proud of some of the young guys who stepped-up and showed some fight.
"At the end of the day to walk away with some points on the defending premiers home turf, there is some satisfaction there."
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Barnawartha outplayed the home side for the first three quarters and deserved its 11-point lead at the last change.
Matt Dalbosco handed the visitors some breathing space early in the last term after he kicked an early goal.
But the defending premier hit back hard with Guy Telford and Mitch Paton both slotting two goals each to jump to seven point lead at the 20-minute mark.
Cook and Matt Ladgrove both landed majors to wrestle back a six-point lead.
Paton then kicked two goals in quick succession to make it four for the quarter and seven for the match and regain the lead for the Hawks by six points.
Fittingly, Cook bobbed up when his side needed him the most to salvage a draw.
Telford with seven goals was the standout for Kiewa-Sandy Creek.
While Cook, Cam McNeill and Josh Spence all proved critical in the big moments.
Hawks coach Adam Mudra said it was an odd feeling being involved in a draw.
"It seems strange, I feel more like we lost than we won," Mudra said.
"It's a hollow feeling.
"I thought we played some good footy in patches and really took the game on.
"Particularly when we were behind we took a few risks and that's what got us back into the contest.
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