NORTH Ballarat has kept its finals hopes alive with a stirring come-from-behind win over Port Melbourne in Round 10 of the Peter Jackson VFL, as Shane Goss reports.
After being 38 points behind at the 20-minute mark of the third term, the Roosters rallied to kick the last eight goals of the match, to win by 10 points, 14.15 (99) to 12.17. (89)
In overcast and cool conditions at North Port Oval not everything was going the home side’s way early as the Roosters made it clear they were in for the long haul.
Port led by one goal at the first break but early into the second quarter they began to stamp their authority on the match.
Shane Valenti, Chris Cain, Joshua Muling and Tom Gordon were on top around the packs and Dean Galea and Anthony Bonnadio were proving hard to hold up forward.
The Borough looked like scoring every time they entered their forward 50 and soon got some breathing space with goals to Toby Pinwell, Galea and Bonnadio.
Liam Anthony and Steve Clifton were doing their best to keep their side within reach but Port were finding space as they often switched play catching the Roosters on the hop.
Taylor Garner goaled for the Roosters to halt the Borough's momentum before Pinwell added another to leave the home side 22 points up at half time.
At the fifteen minute mark of the third term the margin had been reduced to thirteen points and a tight finished loomed.
However, goals to Galea, Valenti, Cain and Joshua Scipione quickly blew the margin out to 38 points and all of a sudden the blow out loomed likely.
But just as quickly as Port took over, the Roosters recovered.
They found avenues to goal through Cameron Richardson, who booted two, James Keeble, Nathan Horbury, Pat Nicholls before a late major from Matt Austin got the Roosters back within fourteen points at the final change.
Port coach Gary Ayres was unimpressed with his players’ attitudes towards their opponents, telling them to put their egos back in the draw.
Perhaps they were already looking ahead to the following week and a grand final re-match with Geelong.
In the Roosters’ camp, coach Gerard FitzGerald was calm, urging his players to move the ball on at all costs.
The final quarter was tense as the Roosters threw everything at their more fancied opponents.
All of a sudden it was North Ballarat who were finding space and when Garner marked and kicked his second nearing time-on they had the lead.
Garner goaled again soon after to seal the match and a thrilling win for the Roosters.
The win ended a remarkable winning streak for Port on their home ground which lasted almost three years. Ironically North Ballarat was the last team to beat Port Melbourne at North Port Oval during a home and away season in 2010.
Anthony was again superb for the visitors with 34 disposals, while Clifton (25) and Oliver Tate (19) were fine contributors.
Galea, with a game-high four goals, Pinwell and Cain were among the better players for Port Melbourne.
The loss drops Port to fourth spot on the ladder with the reigning premiers away in the next round.
North Ballarat remains two games adrift of the top eight but will fancy themselves against rival and bottom placed Bendigo at home next week.
Last Modified on 17/06/2013 17:31