Tara Murray
Melton Centrals were pushed for a half by the Western Rams before running away with a win in the Riddell District Football League.
The local derby was played in tricky conditions at Ian Cowie Reserve, with the winless Rams putting in some of their best football for the year.
The margin was just 15 points at half time, before six goals to nil in the second half secured an 11.14 (80)-3.3 (21) win for the Centrals.
Centrals coach Mark Pederson said they were just happy to get the four points.
“It was a bit of a struggle in the first half,” he said. “They were quite good early and really fought for a half.
“It was hard as the game was a grand final for them.
“After half time we started to play the type of football that we wanted to. The way we played in the second half, we needed to for the whole match.”
Jarrod Spry kicked four goals for Centrals, while Tomas Unferdorben kicked three goals.
Pederson highlighted the games of Jarryd Underwood, Ariek Lual, Kirk Fenton, Kyle Rodgers and Dylan Clarke as some of their best players.
For the Rams, Bradley Busuttil kicked two goals for the Rams and was named their best along with Alex Sweet and Ashley Gray.
For Pederson, the match summed up their season.
“We have had many games where we’ve played four quarters of football which is disappointing,” he said.
“It’s a learning curve for them. We’ve got quite a few new players at the club and you have to mould as a team.
“They have to learn to play well as a team. It’s not about individuals and how good they are, it’s performance as a team which the top teams do.”
Pederson said the side’s focus was to finish the season on a high and find some of that consistent football.
They face Woodend-Hesket and Romsey, before a bye in the final round.
“The last two games are winnable for us,” he said. “Woodend beat us by a point last time and we should have won after being in front all day.
“The Romsey game we were in at three quarter time before they ran over the top of us. We believe they are two winnable games.”
In other results, Diggers Rest maintained its gap at the top of the table with a solid win against Romsey.
After a thriller the first time round, the Burras won 15.14 (104)-7.7 (49).
Mitch Jensen kicked four goals, while Lachlan Donaldson kicked three goals.
Josh Wallace was named the Burras best, while Jaidyn Caruana shone in his first game for the season.
Wallan had a massive win against an illness-hit Lancefield. The Tigers had to forfeit the reserves match due to so many players missing.
The Magpies winning 28.18 (186)-6.6 (42). The Magpies had 12 goal kickers led by Matthew Perri and Corey Grindlay
Riddell had a big win against Macedon in the other match. The Bombers winning .13.10 (88)-3.13 (31).
Tommy Alkemade was named best on ground.
