MELTON South won only one quarter in the Ballarat Football League victory over Ballarat, but it was enough to earn the victory.
Six goals from the Panthers to Ballarat’s one in the second term proved the difference between the two sides at Melton Recreation Reserve on Saturday as Melton South clung on to win its third match of the year.
Ballarat threatened to steal the game in the dying stages when the margin was reduced to five points, but the Panthers held steady to win 22.14 (146) to 19.15 (129).
The match looked all but over in the second half when South stretched the margin to seven goals, but the Swans fought back and looked like pinching the result with just minutes to go.
But the home side steadied with two goals to claim its biggest scalp of the year .
Coach Mathew Sutton, who booted seven goals, said it was the Panthers’ best win of the year.
“It was really important for us. I stressed that to the boys during the week,” he said.
“The second quarter was the best quarter of footy we’ve played this year. We linked together really well all day and we’re really starting to gel now.”
Doug Thomas continued his stellar form for Melton South with a clear best-on-ground performance, ably supported by an impressive Dion Lawson.
“Doug’s just a sensational footballer,” Sutton said.
“The effort he puts in on the field is amazing. We try to rest him down forward but he just keeps going.”
For Ballarat, Luke Brennan was dominant throughout the midfield all day, Chris Prockter was dangerous down forward with five goals and Chris Howgate loomed large when thrown forward at the end of the game, almost winning the match off his own boot.
The Panthers do not play again until June 8 because of the interleague break and then a weekend off caused by its game against Bacchus Marsh being brought forward from round 7 to the opening weekend of the season.
— Ballarat Courier
