SUNBURY survived a kick after the siren to continue its unbeaten start to the Ballarat Football League season at Darley’s expense on Saturday night.
Harley Inglis put his shot from about 45 metres wide to the left after the final siren to leave Sunbury standing, 11.4 (70) to 9.14 (68).
But it should not have come down to an all-or-nothing kick by Inglis as three of his teammates missed gilt-edged chances in a gripping last eight minutes of action.
Sunbury showed its class in slippery conditions, getting out to a 12-point advantage at the 15-minute mark. The Lions enjoyed the advantage of scoreboard pressure for much of the night, with Darley’s spells in the lead brief enough to leave the Devils feeling as though they were always chasing the game.
Simon Clarke was Darley’s main headache and kicked five goals, the fifth a brilliant dribbling effort from close range 10 minutes into the last quarter after ducking and weaving away from his man Sam Hitchings. Jake Edwards (three goals) put Darley within a kick on 19 minutes when he converted a 30m set shot.
But a minute later when Edwards won a free kick 40m out in front for holding the ball, he missed to the right rather than level the scores.
Dane Grenfell missed from 30m on an angle at the 22-minute mark, then Brett O’Bree from 30m out after a 50m penalty that took him from the forward flank into shooting range.
On the last passage of play, Inglis marked a kick from the wing and was at the top of his run-up when the siren went. Sunbury chaired Scott Lobb off the ground, a winner in his 200th game.
BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sunbury 11.4 (70) d Darley 9.14 (68)
GOALS — Sunbury: S. Clarke 5, A. Duhau 2, C. McCabe, M. Baird, M. Coleman, M. Medcraft. Darley: J. Edwards 3, B. Inglis 2, T. Minns, M. Gillespie, S. McAllester, M. Hanson.
BEST — Sunbury: S. Lobb, S. Clarke, A. Short, A. Duhau, M. Baird, J. Baumgartner. Darley: B. Inglis, M. Clancy, D. Gallop, D. Edwards, H. Inglis, N. Jackel.
