A SECOND-quarter surge from Redan has left Melton South running out of chances to step into sixth spot in the Ballarat Football League.
Redan kicked five unanswered second-quarter goals to set up its match-winning lead in the 11.15 (81) to 7.11 (53) result at Melton Recreation Reserve. South (4-7) sits seventh on the table behind Ballarat (5-6) and both teams losing at the weekend has let Bacchus Marsh (eighth, 4-7) climb back into the frame.
Leading by two points at the first change, the Lions put their foot down in the second quarter to hold a 34-point lead at the main break, from which Melton South never looked like recovering.
A four-goal effort from coach Mathew Sutton and a polished display by Doug Thomas helped the Panthers be more than competitive for periods of the game.
“This was a game we really had to win,” assistant coach Darren Stanley said.
“It’s going to be very hard to make finals now, although it’s still mathematically possible.
“All season we’ve let ourselves down by failing to play four quarters and, when you come up against good sides like Redan, you can’t get away with that.”
Craig Searle, Simon Collis, Anthony Cristofaro and Joey Callus were other better Melton South players.
– Luke Griffiths, Ballarat Courier
