The Riddell District Football League was unable to see off a fast-finishing Alberton in the community football interleague championships on Saturday.
After holding a two-point lead at three-quarter time, RDFL succumbed 14.13 (97) – 13.7 (85).
It was the host Alberton that made the better start at Inverloch Recreation Reserve.
Alberton booted six first-term goals to take a 14-point lead into the opening break.
But the longer the match went, the more the RDFL side looked at home.
Jonathon Kent was causing all sorts of trouble up forward for Riddell, while around the ground Brandon Kilty and Brent Swallow were proving a handful for Alberton.
RDFL quickly reeled in the margin and took a two-point advantage into the main break.
RDFL coach Matt Power said his side turned things around by winning the clearances.
“That’s what it was more than anything,” he said. “The boys were working really hard, bu we just couldn’t get that extra break.
“We had some chances to go out to nine or 15 points up and we didn’t take them. Alberton was always thereabouts.”
The sides traded shots on goal in the third term and it appeared the match was heading for a nail-biting finish.
When the whips were cracking, though, it was the hosts that were able to come up trumps. Alberton put the clamps on the RDFL, conceding just two goals across the final 30 minutes.
There were no such scoring troubles at the other end of the ground, with Alberton booting 4.4 in the final term to seal the two-goal win.
Kent worked hard on the RDFL forward line to finish with five goals.
He received good support from Haydn Ross, who kicked three of his own.
Also impressive for the RDFL were Matthew Burkett, Timothy Walsh and Kilty.
The result had Alberton jumping to 26th place in the AFL Victoria community championship rankings.
The RDFL slips to 29th and has a date with the Warrnambool Football League next year.
