The Warriors held off a fast finishing Nhill side at Central Park to claim a thrilling one-point victory, their first of 2018.

Leading for the majority of the match, Stawell nearly let the four points slip in the final term if not for a late goal from 17-year-old Paul Summers just moments before the final siren.

Summers’ fourth goal of the game gave Stawell a 12.11 (83) to 12.10 (82) victory.

New Warriors co-coach Jamie Solyom said the script of the match could not have been written any better.

“It was really nerve-wracking at the end after we had a really good start,” he said. 

“We got off to a really good start. Slowly but surely Nhill kept on chipping away. A few of our boys started to tire in but to their credit they stuck to the play style and managed to get up by one point in the end.”

The Warriors dominated early proceedings, recording 11 scoring shots to Nhill’s four in the opening term.

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The Tigers slowly worked their way back into the match but still trailed by 23 points at the final break. They put together a six-goal final quarter to lead by five points going into the final two minutes of the match. 

Young Summers managed to stand up and slot the ball through the goals from 40 metres out heading into the wind to win the game for Stawell.

“Not even a minute later the siren went,” Solyom said.

“To kick two clutch goals for a young kid is very important, he was great to watch. It was very intense.” 

Solyom said it was a great game of football to be a part of. 

“Two clubs which haven’t been up there in the last couple of years having a really good crack,” he said. 

It has been a difficult month and a half for the Warriors, losing their marquee signing and coach in the space of one week.

Solyom said he side has worked hard to get their season back on track. 

“After what we have gone through for the last three or four weeks we really put a lot of time and energy on our training around this game,” he said. 

Captain Cam Kimber was named best on field for Stawell. 

“He led from the front, one of the best games I have ever seen him play. He put his body on the line all day,” Solyom said.

Tom Taurau, Naish McRoberts, Jackson Dark, Paul Summers and Shane Field were also among Stawell’s best.