– Click here for our gallery of the Parkside v Wyndhamvale match
SPOTSWOOD had to endure a tense afternoon before securing a hard-earned 25-point win over St Albans in the Western Region Football League division 1.
The Woodsmen trailed for three quarters on their home turf at McLean Reserve, but, like they so often do, found a way to victory when the heat was on in the last term.
They booted five of the last six goals of the match to leave the Saints wondering what might have been.
Former AFL player Jason Cloke snared four important goals for the Woodsmen, while fellow team leaders Tom Langlands and Chris O’Keefe stood up big time when the game was up for grabs.
It was an important win for the Woodsmen, who improved their record to 3-1 and maintained their standing among the top four teams.
North Footscray’s woes continued on the day the majority of the 1983 premiership team was celebrated on its past players occasion.
The Devils were thrashed by 99 points at home, but at least showed improvement on their past two showings.
Josh Riddle, Ethan O’Donnell and Patrick Jackson were the best for the winless Devils.
Yarraville-Seddon Eagles found the going tough on the road at Hoppers Crossing, losing by 66 points.
The pick of the Eagles players were Kieran Pearce, Glenn Jansz and Jason Harmes.
In division 2, Parkside treated its fans to a 22-point win over Wyndhamvale in the game of the round at Henry Turner Reserve.
The Magpies finished the game full of run with a three goals to one last term to hold onto their narrow three-quarter-time lead. Click here for our gallery of the Parkside v Wyndhamvale match.
Fabiano Mastropasqua booted three goals for the Magpies, while Robert Ryan, Chris Muratore and Nick Grant had big outings.
Laverton was the most competitive it has been this season, but went down by 20 points to expansion side Sanctuary Lakes.
Bryan Lawry, James Dunne and three-goal forward Richard Mulroy were the pick of the Laverton players.
West Footscray continues to find the going tough, losing by 108 points to Sunshine Heights, despite four goals to Tom Augustine and the usual quality showing from Mark Speakman.
Division 1
Deer Park 20.20 (140) d Altona 19.11 (125). Altona – goals: Post 4, Shiels, Robbins 3, Rafferty, Jawad 2, Lunardi, Spiteri, Turnbull, Halloran, Cross. Best: Halloran, Post, Robbins, Rafferty, Kennedy, Cross.
Hoppers Crossing 17.12 (114) d Yarraville-Seddon 6.12 (48). Yarraville-Seddon – goals: Dorazio, Stretton, Krakouer, Newtown, Topalidis, Willis. Best: Pearce, Jansz, Harmes, Collins, Dorazio, Stretton.
Spotswood 17.14 (116) St Albans 14.7 (91). Spotswood – goals: Cloke 4, El-Hawli 3, Fogarty, Elliott, Callard 2, O’Keefe, Langlands, Orchard, Ryan. Best: Langlands, Elliott, O’Keefe, El-Hawli, Langlands, Lynch.
North Footscray 6.6 (42) lt Albion 21.15 (141). North Footscray – goals: Wills, Wilson, Dardha, Aspiotis, Jackson, Peters. Best: Riddle, O’Donnell, Jackson, Peters, Wilson, Brown.
Around the grounds: Port Melbourne Colts 11.8 (74) lt Sunshine 22.12 (144).
Next round: Albion v Deer Park, Altona v Port Melbourne Colts, Spotswood v North Footscray, Sunshine v Hoppers Crossing, Yarraville-Seddon v St Albans.
Division 2
Sunshine Heights 23.15 (153) d West Footscray 6.9 (45). West Footscray – goals: Augustine 4, Trowsdale 2. Best: Speakman, Augustine, Griffin, Lay, Trowsdale, Turner.
Parkside 10.16 (76) d Wyndhamvale 7.12 (54). Parkside – goals: Mastropasqua 3, Towns, Ryan, Muratore, Grant, Bera, Pearce, Gervasi. Best: Ryan, Muratore, Grant, Bera, Fowler, Pearce.
Sanctuary Lakes 14.13 (97) d Laverton 11.11 (77). Laverton – goals: Mulroy 3, Kelso, Boxshall 2, Paone, O’Donnell, Bublenik, Ristevski. Best: Lawry, Dunne, Mulroy, Spiteri, Collins, Paone.
Around the grounds: Albanvale 9.4 (58) lt Glenorden 40.14 (254), North Sunshine 6.8 (44) lt Braybrook 15.17 (107), Manor Lakes 16.15 (111) d Caroline Springs 7.8 (50).
Next round: Albanvale v West Footscray, Braybrook v Sanctuary Lakes, Laverton v Parkside, Wyndhamvale v Sunshine Heights, North Sunshine v Caroline Springs, Glenorden v Manor Lakes.—
