By Nick Creely
JOURNAL FOOTBALL REVIEW
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION 2 – ROUND 14
Springvale Districts’ 6.12(48) stirring three game winning streak has come to a screeching halt, falling to premiership favourite Chelsea Heights 15.10(100) on Saturday by 52-points.
Trying to keep their season alive, the Demons had no answers early as the Heighters ran amok, having 11 scoring shots to just three to take a commanding 23-point quarter-time lead.
Some resistance in the second by the Demons – in the form of three goals, kept them in touch at half time – 21-points in arrears.
But in the premiership quarter, the Heighters stepped up a class, skipping out to a nine-goal lead thanks to the exploits of Phil Matheson and Joel Williams, who kicked three goals apiece.
With clinical full forward – and leading goal kicker in the competition Phil Smith out of action, the Heighters put them away in a strong third quarter burst, before a lackluster final term from both sides left the margin just under the nine goal mark.
Springvale Districts will need to wait another week to atone for their heaviest loss of the season as they have the bye next week.
Keysborough had the bye on the weekend, but face Murrumbeena in Round 15.
DIVISION 3 – ROUND 13
It was an absolute belter of a match at Barry Simon Reserve on Saturday, with Endeavour Hills 10.12(72) just pipping the top-of-the-table Hallam 9.12(66) by six-points.
Both premiership fancies had been eyeing this clash off for weeks, with the Eagles having bragging rights in what was their second victory over the Hawks this season. I
n a game similar to their Round 2 clash in which the Eagles won by just eight-points in a bruising affair that remained tight throughout most of the match, Hallam were on a mission to not make the same mistakes again.
But in a tough, unrelenting first quarter, the Eagles got the handy nine-point buffer at quarter time after two quick goals by Jarrod Moralla and Stefan Krull, but were inaccurate, kicking 2.4 to 1.1 in the term, undoing some of their fine work through the midfield.
The Hawks roared back to life in the second quarter to steal the lead away from the hosts, as the league ladders put their foot down and starting getting the game on their terms.
The game remained tight with both sides realizing the game was going down to the wire, and it was Hallam who held their nerve to hold a slender two-point lead at three quarter time.
Late in the final term, with the Hawks holding firm by just a couple of points, Eagles’ forward Daniel Morrison provided the match winning major in brilliant fashion, with the home side holding on in a tense final five minutes.
The win means a lot for Endeavour Hills, who now surge a game clear in fourth position on the ladder.
Despite the loss, Hallam still holds top spot by a long margin.
The Doveton Eagles 9.13(67), meanwhile, scrapped out a vital 23-point victory over Lyndhurst 4.10(34) at Marriott Waters Reserve.
In what could be perceived as a danger game for the Eagles, the likes of gun forward Cory Wilson, Cam Carmody (four goals) and Enayate Samadi (two goals) ensured their side did just enough to bank the four points.
The Eagles have now moved into second spot on the Division 3 ladder in what has been a stunning month from the men from Doveton.
In other matches across the round, Lyndale 14.16(100) defeated Carrum Patterson Lakes 10.4(64) as expected, with Trevor Kumetaitis (five goals) reaching 50 goals after yet another bag, South Yarra 26.21(177) banked some percentage over Dandenong 3.4(22), Moorabbin 19.15(129) pulled away late against Sandown 13.4(82), in what was the Cobras’ highest score of the season by a considerable margin, and Ashwood 8.6(54) relinquished second spot after a shock loss to Black Rock 14.14(98).
