By LIAM TWOMEY
A DOMINANT last quarter allowed Spotswood to secure an important victory against Hoppers Crossing in round 11 of the Western Region Football League season on Saturday.
In what was a must-win game for the Warriors, it was the more highly fancied Woodsmen that made the better start to the contest.
Spotswood fired out of the blocks with five opening-quarter goals to take a nine-point lead into the first break.
The margin remained at a similar distance for the next 30 minutes of play until Spotswood broke the game open in the third term.
The Woodsmen kicked seven goals to four before adding a further eight goals in the last quarter to secure the 68-point win.
Mahmoud El-Hawli was a standout for the winners, booting five goals in a near best-on-ground performance.
He was well supported by his captain Chris O’Keefe who also kicked four goals in the 22.16 (148) to 12.8 (80) win.
For Hoppers Crossing, Terry Knight booted four goals to be the club’s leading forward while former Western Bulldog Brodie Moles was named best on ground for the Warriors.
Saturday’s result sees Spotswood maintain third spot on the WRFL division one ladder with an 8-3 win/loss record for the season.
The news isn’t as good for Hoppers Crossing, which faces a battle to make finals.
The Warriors sit in sixth spot on the ladder, equal on points with fifth-placed St Albans, but trail the Saints by 14 percentage points.
When round 12 gets underway this weekend, Spotswood will do battle with Albion and Hoppers Crossing will take on St Albans in what is looming as a season-defining match.
Elsewhere in the WRFL, a Jayden Post inspired Altona smashed Albion by 107 points.
Post dominated the forward 50 arc, kicking nine goals in his best performance for the Vikings since signing with the club in the off-season.
He was also one of 11 goal scorers for Altona in the impressive 24.20 (164) to 8.9 (57) win.
Altona is in outright second place on the WRFL ladder with a 9-2 win/loss record for the season.
