HOPPERS Crossing held on for a thrilling five-point win against Albion on Saturday virtually cementing a spot in the Division One Western Region Football League finals and knocking the Cats off the top of the ladder.
The Warriors led all day in the round 15 clash, fighting off a determined Cats outfit in the final quarter to take the match 9.17.71 to 9.12.66.
The Cats, searching for their fourth consecutive win were overwhelmed in the opening quarter, only managing one point for the term.
The Warriors, on their home turf and in club stalwart Adam Taylor’s 300th game, went on a rampage, kicking with a strong wind they racked up 15 scoring shots but for an average return of 3.12.
Hoppers Crossing coach Michael Frost was disappointed that his side did not take advantage of the wind in the opening term.
“There was a five to six goal breeze for most of the game. It died down a little in the second half,” he said.
“We kicked 3.12 in the first quarter and could have finished them off early but we didn’t.”
Albion proved it was no push over in the second to reel the margin into just four points at the main break.
In the third the Warriors again capitalised on the wind to kick 5.2 to Albion’s 1.2, setting up a 28 buffer heading into the final term, but with Albion kicking with the wind in the final term the game was far from over.
“We knew they would come home strong, they are not on top of the ladder for no reason,” Frost said.
The Cats came painfully close to taking the match, with four majors in the final term but the Warriors gritted their teeth for an invaluable win.
Albion dropped from top spot to third on even points with Spotswood and Port Melbourne but down on percentage, while the Warriors can breathe a little easier, sitting two games clear of sixth placed Sunshine with three rounds to play.
Frost cited his side’s commitment as a deciding factor in what he described as a “great” win.
“It was our commitment (that was the difference). Our commitment to the ball, our commitment to the contest and commitment to the team. Obviously to beat the team on top of the ladder was a real gutsy effort from our blokes.
“Adam Taylor is an icon of the club so we were fired up at the start (for his 300th) and we carried it through for four quarters, which was good for the team, but for ‘Tails’ a legend of the club we really wanted to make sure it was a memorable day for him.”
Jackson Litchfield was named best on ground for the Warriors, earning the coach’s praise.
“He played a fantastic game of footy… he had a lot of thrust inside our forward fifty and really had the ball on a string.”
John Haldane was named best on ground for the Cats, while Jason Butina once again led the goalkicking with four.
Hoppers Crossing is two games clear in the top five and an almost definite for September action, but Frost admitted finals football has not really been on the agenda for his team.
“It hasn’t been our focus; we haven’t really spoken about it a great deal. A couple of weeks ago we weren’t sure if we would make them.”
The Cats will look to get back on the winner’s list next week against the lowly Glen Orden side, while the Warriors have a real chance to shake up the four when they come up against the might of the Port Melbourne Colts.
In other matches Sunshine put in an admirable performance against the reigning premier Spotswood, going down by 37 points.
The Kangaroos reeled in a first term five-goal deficit to trail by 13 points at half-time but could not contain the Woodsmen in the second half.
Morgan King kicked five for the Kangaroos, but the side will now feel the pinch, needing to win the remainder of their games and relying on other results to go their way for a chance at finals football.
The Yarraville-Seddon Eagles gave themselves something to smile about with their first win of the season against fellow cellar dweller West Footscray.
The Eagles held on for a four-point win in a match with a constantly changing lead.
Andrew Willis kicked seven for the Eagles to top score for his side, while down the other end the Roosters’ John Hardaway jnr also kicked seven to top score and earn best on ground for his team.
Port Melbourne Colts destroyed Glen Orden – an eight goal opening term to the Colts at home beginning the onslaught.
Jason Clarke dominated up forward for the home side kicking seven.
St Albans held strong in fourth place after a comfortable win against Altona.
A 10-goal lead at three-quarter time to the Saints saw them finish 79-point winners, Michael Spooner and Damien Fitzpatrick kicking four apiece for the Saints.
In Division Two Braybrook kept its finals chances alive with a five-goal win against the higher placed Deer Park, Coburg Districts thumped North Sunshine, Albanvale trounced Wyndhamvale Falcons, North Footscray overran Parkside, and Sunshine Heights were too good for the Western Magpies.
