Harper Sercombe
Spotswood won its clash with Hoppers Crossing in the Western Region Football League’s division 1 on Saturday, but it wasn’t without a scare from the last placed side.
The match was an even contest with only a point splitting the sides at quarter time and Spotswood taking a seven point lead into the main break.
However, the Warriors were able to break away in the third, kicking four goals to Woodsman’s one, giving them an 11 point win at three quarter time.
Spotswood came out determined in the last, kicking two goals from eight scoring shots while only allowing the Warriors three behinds.
In what would have been a crushing blow to the Woodsmen’s finals chances, coach Tom German said he is surprised the Warriors have only managed one win throughout the season, which came against the Woodsmen.
“It was a very close game, they’ve been very good every time we’ve played them, so it has me beat how they’ve only won one game,” he said.
“It’s a very even competition and we’re very happy to get away with the four points.”
German said his side has had experience coming back from a three quarter time deficit throughout the year so he had confidence in his players.
“They (Hoppers Crossing) were playing well, they had a pretty good third quarter and we were a bit flat in the third quarter so we came home strong in the last and managed to get over the line,” he said.
Kicking six points in the last quarter and failing to completely put the game to bed was frustrating, German said.
“[In the last quarter] we had our opportunities and at times we didn’t take them but we managed to put the pressure on and [get] repeat entries and managed to hold on.”
With only three rounds to go in the competition, Spotswood currently sit in fourth position and is hoping to hold on to that spot in the finals.
“It’s such an even competition so it’s in our hands at the moment, but we just focus on one week at a time,” German said.
“Altona’s a big game for us next week at home.”
This will be the third time the teams have faced this season, where the sides have split the results. Altona currently sit in third position.
“We just want to replicate the brand [of football] that we played against them last time,” German said.
“They’re obviously the reigning premier so they’re a very, very good side.”
In other results, Altona lost to Point Cook in its men’s division 1 clash. With the Bulldogs running away with a 37 point victory. The final scores being 10.16 (76)-5.9 (39). Nathan Clarke was a stand out for Altona, being awarded as his team’s best on ground.
Yarraville Seddon Eagles won against Caroline Springs, 14.13 (97)- 9.12 (66). The Eagles now sit in fifth spot, only four points behind Spotswood having jumped ahead of the Lakers.
