Nitros floor the rest

By Gavin Staindl
THE Nitros have capped off a perfect season by winning the Pakenham Floorball League grand final 10-5 over the Tropicals at Cardinia Life last Thursday night.
Man-of-the-match Brad King shot five goals and assisted in two others as his team fought back from a 1-3 deficit at the end of the first period.
The Nitros had not lost a game heading into the final match of the season but were left stunned when the Tropicals slammed home three goals in the opening term.
Tropicals captain Jeremy Monckton (four goals) and forward Kieran Dryburghe (one goal, one assist) ruthlessly controlled the play and could have built a bigger lead but could only watch as three shots ricocheted off the posts.
The misses would prove costly and a few lucky goals by King, including a miss-timed shot that snuck under the goalkeeper’s legs, saw a turn of momentum and before the final change the Nitros had piled on five unanswered goals.
After being bundled out in the semi-finals last year to the Royals, the Nitros were keen to not let another opportunity pass.
Nitros youngsters Josh Savotelli (one goal, one assist) and Holly Jamison (two goals, one assist) both put the match beyond doubt before the Tropicals scored two late consolation goals.
“It is good for the younger players to play in a grand final and without them we probably wouldn’t have won,” veteran player Ben Looby said reflecting on the match.
The grand final win is the Nitros first since 2008 and only their second since entering the league in 2004.