Diggers Rest missed a chance to jump to equal top of the Riddell District Football League ladder on Saturday, going down to Riddell after a poor final quarter.
Just a week after knocking over the previously unbeaten Macedon, Diggers Rest struggled to shake a determined Riddell as the two sides traded blows across the first three quarters before the home side broke away.
With Macedon losing again on Saturday, a win for Diggers Rest would have drawn them level on points with the Cats and new leaders Rupertswood, but Riddell kicked six final quarter goals to two to run away with a 14.11 (95)-10.7 (67) victory.
It was a scrappy affair early in the game, as the Burras kicked the only goal of the opening term from 10 total shots between the two sides.
It was goal for goal from there until the final term, with Tom Gleeson and Tom Taylor each booting two for the Burras, but when the game was on the line it was Riddell who performed better.
Despite the loss, the Burras remain in third place on the ladder and are a game plus percentage clear of fourth-placed Wallan.
Elsewhere, Melton Centrals withstood a late comeback in their clash with Rockbank before eventually holding on for a seven point win.
Centrals shot out of the blocks, and if not for some inaccuracy in front of goal the game could almost have been sewn up in the opening term. The visiting Centrals kicked 3.5 to two goals to open up an early advantage, and they would stretch it further in the second quarter when some more accurate shooting for goal delivered a 21-point buffer at the long break.
The Rams clawed their way back into the contest in the third to close the gap to just 10 points going into the final quarter, and had their chances to take the win late as the final quarter unfolded.
Rockbank would kick 4.4 in the last, ruing some missed opportunities as Centrals kicked 4.1 to hold on for a 12.12 (84)-11.11 (77) win.
The win has Centrals in eighth spot, but three games outside of the finals places with just four rounds remaining, while Rockbank remains 10th with just two wins for the season.
The Rams will look to grab a morale-boosting win this week when they take on Lancefield, while Centrals will need to beat Romsey to stand any chance of a shock finals appearance.
