Bacchus Marsh held off a fast-finishing Sunbury Lions in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
At three-quarter time the Cobras looked set to go on and have a big win against a finals contender.
That all changed in the final quarter when a steadying goal to Jake Owen proved to be enough and the Cobras won 15.13 (103)-13.10 (88).
Cobras’ coach Travis Hodgson said it wasn’t a case of them playing bad in the final quarter, but the Lions lifted to another level.
“I thought we were in a bit of trouble,” he said.
“Sunbury came at us pretty hard and I reckon they looked half a chance to get over us when they got to within a couple of goals.
“In the end, we were able to find a goal, mainly off the back of Jake Owen’s ability to win a one-on-one when we desperately needed it.”
For much of the day the Cobras looked in control. They led at every break and could quite easily have had a much bigger margin.
Hodgson said moving the ball fast to their forwards made a big difference.
“I thought for our dominance early and a lot of ball inside 50, we didn’t have a lot to show for it.
“They rolled numbers back pretty hard and it was pretty crowded and it made it hard to score.
“We didn’t use the ball as well as we probably could have. In the second quarter we started to get reward for our effort and actually at three-quarter time probably thought we might have been able to go on with it.”
He said credit to Sunbury that they were able to get back into the game.
Owen and Ryley Stuhldreier kicked four goals apiece for the Cobras, and both were named in the best.
Hodgson said Daniel Burton dominated in the ruck and his ability to get the ball forward out of contests was crucial. Nicholas Stuhldreier, Liam Mullen and Logan Blundell were the others named as best.
The win cements the Cobras’ spot on top of the ladder on percentage ahead of East Point.
Hodgson said they could have several players back next week.
“We’ll take that win, we had seven out of our best 22, so that takes the edge off us.
“We could get as many as five back. A lot were short-team injuries.
“Alec Del Papa, Billy Griffiths, Daniel Foley and Trent Angwin should all be back. Three of those players were named, before pulling out on Thursday and Friday.”
In other results, Darley was too strong for Ballarat, winning 10.13 (73)-2.10 (22).
Melton South was smashed by East Point, losing 24.20 (164)-5.6 (36).
Melton had the bye.
