A DEPLETED Melton fell agonisingly short with a one-goal loss to fellow netball premiership contender North Ballarat City on Saturday.
The 38-37 result keeps North City unbeaten and top of the ladder in Ballarat Netball League A grade, while Melton remains second.
Both teams were without key players, with Melton missing league medallist Brooke Thompson and mid-courter Amy Conroy, while North City’s VNL connections played for Ballarat Pride.
Melissa McCauley netted 27 goals as Melton’s top scorer, while Krista Woodroffe, Jess Bartlett and Brooke Gleeson were the best players for the Bloods.
Sunbury is up to third in the league after crushing Sebastopol 60-27, but Darley fell out of the top six with a 38-20 loss to East Point.
Melton South’s campaign remains winless, with the Panthers recording their third drawn game of the year against Ballarat.
The Panthers trailed by seven at three-quarter time but rallied via shooters Andrea Tai (21 goals) and Danielle Robertson (19) to tie 40-40.
Elsewhere, Redan beat Lake Wendouree 34-31.
