Riddell District Football League’s interleague clash with Alberton went down to the wire, with the visitors snatching a one-point win at Romsey Park on Saturday.
Riddell looked to have taken control of the game in the third quarter, opening up an 18-point lead by the final change.
But Alberton ran over the top of the RDFL in last term to win 16.3 (104) to 15.8 (103).
PICTURE GALLERY: RDFL v Alberton interleague
RDFL coach Matt Power said the home side had let itself down.
‘‘We had opportunities to put it away. We didn’t close the door and they ran through it.
“Two 50-metre penalties don’t help in the end. What it comes down to is a little bit of discipline and they were more disciplined then us in the final quarter.”
The RDFL started the match well but initially struggled to convert on the scoreboard.
Alberton kicked a goal with its first real scoring opportunity and soon followed up with another. James Nolan scored the RDFL’s first goal after receiving a handball in the goal square. The teams traded goals before an Alberton goal on the siren gave it a 12-point lead at the first change.
Riddell’s key forwards, Nolan and Matthew Davidson, had more of a presence in the second term. Increased pressure from the home side resulted in three goals in the opening five minutes of the quarter.
Nolan continued to cause trouble for the Alberton defenders, passing one off and kicking another goal himself later in the term.
Riddell got off to a scrappy start in the third quarter, peppering the goals with four behinds.
The home side eventually started to make the most of its dominance, scoring five goals to two to lead by 18 points at three-quarter-time.
But Alberton started the better of the two sides, kicking the first goal of the final quarter.
The RDFL responded with a goal of its own through Davidson, before Alberton kicked the next few to take the lead 14 minutes into the quarter. Nolan booted his fifth goal for the match to put Riddell back in front but missed a chance to extend the lead.
Alberton got the next goal and the RDFL’s hopes of winning were dashed when it gave away consecutive 50-metre penalties after a holding the ball decision resulted in a goal to the visitors.
Midfielder Matt Sammut was Riddell’s best, while Nolan, Brett Chambers and Angus Storey also played well.
