Defender Adrian Little is expected to return from injury for Noble Park’s clash with Vermont this Saturday. 19159 By Paul Pickering
WITH every squandered opportunity, the groans of the Noble Park faithful grew louder at the Bullring on Saturday night.
After leading Balwyn by seven points at the last break of the Eastern Football League match, the Bulls wasted a series of guilt-edged opportunities to ice the game in front of goals.
Almost inevitably the Tigers came roaring home, kicking four goals in the last 10 minutes to win by 12 points.
The result signalled a drastic change in fortunes since the sides last met in round four, when Noble Park trounced the Tigers by 10 goals in a clinical display at Balwyn Park.
Balwyn has not lost since, while the Bulls seem to have lost their way in the past month.
Injured Noble Park coach Kris Barlow was at a loss to explain the wayward finish on Saturday night.
“We had eight set shots in the last quarter for six points and two that didn’t make it,” he said.
“When you play against good opposition sides and you give them a chance, they take it. And you don’t get a second chance.”
For the Bulls, the frustration of a 2.12 second half overshadowed what was an impressive opening.
In brisk and blustery conditions, Noble Park looked more determined in the first half and was able to stifle Balwyn’s potent forward line.
In the absence of key defenders Lloyd Williams (suspension) and Adrian Little (calf), versatile tough nut Tim Davison went back to the last line to mark Balwyn’s Patrick Bowden (two goals).
With Davison getting the better of that duel, and the conditions defying the Tiger talls, Noble Park restricted the visitors to a single goal in the first half.
But the Tigers began to assert themselves after the break, with ex-Hawthorn star Joel Smith rebounding expertly from half back.
Tim Kelly was equally prominent in that position for the Bulls, but the dominance of Balwyn ball magnet Roc Harry and ruckman Brad Smith provided the likes of Bowden and Brett Moyle (two) with abundant supply up forward.
Still, the Bulls should have put the result beyond doubt early in the last quarter, but a dismal return of 0.7 would ultimately prove fatal.
The performances of Kelly and Davison provided some reason for optimism, as did the tireless running of winger Daniel Norman and the successful return of Robbie Ferraro.
More importantly, the Bulls should be bolstered by the return of Barlow (knee) and Little for this week’s crucial clash at Vermont. According to Barlow, the ultimate test for his side could not have come at a better time.
“I couldn’t think of any side I’d rather be playing this weekend,” he said, backing his charges to rise to the occasion.
Clearly, the Bulls are yet to prove their big game credentials.
Saturday night’s blockbuster clash should have provided the ideal stage for Noble Park to re-establish itself within the Division One elite, but the doubters remain.
