VFL: Seagulls goalless after quarter time, drop to fourth

AT quarter-time in its VFL clash with fierce rival Port Melbourne, Williamstown led 2.3 (15) to 2.1 (13).

At full-time, the Gulls trailed by 69 points, having added only four measly behinds to their tally after quarter-time.

Port, which won the first clash between the two sides in round eight, again emerged victorious in extremely wet and heavy conditions at North Port Oval with a scoreline of 13.10 (88) and 2.7 (19).

Despite the thrashing, Williamstown football manager Chris Dixon said the Seagulls were competitive for much of the first half before Port got the momentum late in the second.

“A few late goals sapped the confidence a bit,” he said.

But Dixon said the final margin was justified.

“For the first 45 minutes we were competitive in the conditions but the second half was very disappointing,” he said. “We deserved what we got in the second half – dishing up that sort of football the scoreboard was no surprise.

“The conditions are the same for both sides and Port dealt with them much better. ”

The loss was the Seagulls’ second in a row after three straight wins and dropped them to fourth on the ladder, with the Borough moving to third.

Home games against Frankston, Geelong and the Northern Blues are ahead in the final five rounds, with away matches against Collingwood and North Ballarat.