A stunning seven goal haul from Ash Froud has been the driving force in guiding Vermont into recording a hard fought eight point victory over Noble Park at Pat Wright Senior Oval. With 21 goals in the first 4 rounds, it is easy to see why he is still rated the premier small forward in First Division.
With Froud kicking goals from all angles at in the forward half of the ground, the match also signalled just why David Barton is going to be a thorn to many an opposition small forward with a superb negating role on Noble Park danger man Shayne Allan. Restricted to just one goal, Allan was worn as tight as a glove by Barton recruited in the off season from Mt.Eliza.
The match for the full four quarters was a see-sawing affair with the greatest margin gained by either side being just eleven points with this coming very late into the contest. It would take twelve minutes for the first goal to register on the score board after a pulsating start of end to end football. Froud brought up goal number one after firing home a fine snap from forty metres.
Bulls power forward Brett Dore opened up his sides account on fourteen minutes only for Froud to once again kick truly with another fine snap shot two minutes later. Again the Bulls answered when Craig Anderson broke the lines to kick a superb running goal from 45 metres.
Ruckman Simon Taylor kicked truly after receiving a pass from Tom Schneider as the opening term entered time on. But goals to Dore his second from a long bomb on the 50 metre arc and fellow forward Matt Dunne who punished a poor turnover saw the Bulls enter the quarter time huddle nine points to the good.
Qtr Time:
Noble Park 4-5-(29) Vermont 3-2-(20)
Just a mere 43 seconds into the second quarter Froud brought up his third goal of the afternoon with a clever snap shot from an acute angle to reduce the leeway. A defensive mix up allowed Luke Cody to hit back for the Bulls less than 60 seconds later. But three goals in a space of four minutes took a nine point deficit and transformed it into a ten point lead.
Froud brought up goal number four when he performed a “party trick” steal and in turn slotted the ball home through the eye of the needle. Daniel Mendes then converted a set shot free kick from 30 metres soon followed up by a fine set conversion from Paul Chadwick.
A rare touch and goal from Shayne Allan reduced the lead to four points at the ten minute mark to again just four points. After a tough slog of fifteen minutes without a goal the Bulls went four points ahead when an unmanned Dunne ran into an open goal.
But Froud on twenty seven minutes mark put the Eagles back in front when he steered home his fifth of the half after getting on the end of a fine Kris Bardon pass. Not be outdone, the Bulls would take a four point lead into the main break as the siren sounded when George Angelopoulos marked and goaled from close range.
Half Time Noble Park 8-9-(57) Vermont 8-5-(53)
Two goals from Nathan Henley in the space of a minute within four minutes of the restart again put the Eagles into the positive by eight points. The first came from a strong mark over the pack in the goal square , while his second six pointer would come from a play on call from a free kick allowing him the run into an open goal. This would prove to be the only score for the quarter for the Eagles.
The tightness of the tussle saw just two more goals in the third term coming at the eighth and nineteen minute marks courtesy of the Bulls Cody and Angelopoulos which would give the home side an eight point lead at three quarter time.
Three Qtr Time Noble Park 10-13-(73) Vermont 10-5-(65)
It was a frenetic start to the final quarter and it would take a piece of sheer magic from the competition most outstanding magician to help break the stalemate. A supreme run and carry by skipper Ryan Mullett from deep in defence which exquisitely broke the lines like a knife slicing through butter and a kick placed perfectly in front of the flying Ash Froud running towards goal. He made no mistake for his sixth and the margin to just one point.
At the thirteen minute mark Froud brought up goal number seven and arguably his best of the afternoon to win the Eagles back the lead by five points after picking the ball up on his finger tips and majestically swivelling to kick a superb goal.
The lead hit its greatest height for the day a minute later when Justin van Unen brought up his first goal of the game after kicking truly from 30 metres out. Angelopoulos kept the Bulls alive just shy of time on when a defensive howler allowed the diminutive forward the easiest of conversions from point blank range.
But as good as the hosts could give Vermont would produce the required answers with Robbie Ross taking the lead back out to 10 points twenty one minutes into the quarter after converting from a free kick awarded from 30 metres out.
Final Score Noble Park 11-17-(83) Vermont 14-7-(91)
Vermont Goals:
A.Froud 7, N.Henley 2, J.van Unen, R.Ross, S.Taylor, D.Mendes, P.Chadwick 1.
Vermont Best: (Watson’s Choice)
A.Froud, D.Barton, T.Schneider, D.Millhouse, N.Henley, R.Ross.
Noble Park Goals:
G.Angelopoulos 3, B.Dore 2, L.Cody 2, M.Dunne 2, C.Anderson, S.Allan 1.
Noble Park Best:
A.McConnell, C.Jacotine, G.Angelopoulos, B.Scalzo, J.Plymin, L.Cody.
Next Saturday the Eagles are again on the road taking on Blackburn at Morton Park
Last Modified on 07/05/2013 16:40
