Andrew Hooper kicked three goals for Williamstown on Sunday. 78056_14 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WILLIAMSTOWN withstood a last quarter fightback to claim an important 19-point victory against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
After leading all day, a fast-finishing Sandringham got to within one point of the Seagulls, before Zephaniah Skinner kicked a superb crumbing goal against the run of play and against a four-goal wind in the 28th minute of the last term to deflate the Saints.
Skinner put the nail in the coffin with his second goal minutes later to push Williamstown up to second on the ladder, behind the unbeaten Port Melbourne.
Williamstown looked in complete control in the first half, kicking five unanswered goals in the first quarter and holding on to a 27-point buffer in the second quarter, against a strong breeze.
The Saints let several goal-kicking opportunities go begging, and took the game up to Williamstown in the third quarter, despite not making any inroads on the margin.
But the Seagulls struggled to contain the Saints in the last term, with Adam Cockie, Brett Peake and Myke Cook kicking goals within the first six minutes of the term, before Williamstown captain Ben Jolley, who held the midfield together, answered with a superb goal against the flow.
The frenetic final few minutes was pressure footy at its best, at times resembling a scrum, with no player willing to give an inch.
Sandringham got within a point of Williamstown, but the Seagulls finally found some space and broke the Saint’s spirit with three late goals to win the match.
“I got a bit nervous when they kicked that first couple in the last quarter but you’ve just got to dig deep in these games,” Williamstown captain Ben Jolley said.
“Probably the conditions helped us a little bit with the rain coming with about five minutes to go… It probably played in our favour.
“Our form hasn’t been great, a bit up and down, which is to be expected with a young group. But we really needed to win today, to give us the best chance of getting through… putting us in good shape for the rest of the year.”
Williamstown will take on Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval this Sunday.
Williamstown 15.11 (101) d Sandringham 11.16 (82)
Goals: Williamstown: Z. Skinner 3, A. Hooper 3. Sandringham: A. Cockie 2, B. Wilkes 2.
Best: Williamstown: S. Witkowski, J. McNamara. Sandringham: B. Wilkes, B. Dowler
