The win helped the Bloods climb to fifth on the Division 2 ladder with the final score 20.11 (131) to 11.16 (82) win.
A week after kicking eight goals against Hurstbridge, Peter Shepherd again starred up forward kicking 10 goals – bringing his total to 32 for the season.
It was the second week in a row that the 2011 lead goal scorer won the game off his own boot, with Matthew Micallef also solid up forward for the Bloods, slotting three goals of his own.
For the losing side, Matthew Pow was the only multiple goal kicker with four goals, as the Lions failed to produce the form that saw them challenge Epping and Diamond Creek over the past fortnight.
South Morang came out hard in the first quarter, kicking the first two goals but Lalor soon settled and were able to hit back though with three of their own to take a four-point into the quarter time break.
Despite the determined comeback, the Bloods’ lead could also be attributed to South Morang’s inaccurate kicking at goal.
The second quarter was a tight affair, with only 5 goals kicked between the teams. Lalor booted three of those to take an eight-point lead into the long break.
After the main break South Morang came out strongly and hit the front due to some great play from Matthew Pow. The big forward kicked two goals and had a hand in the third to put the Lions in front from a goal.
But Lalor found a new gear once they fell behind and kicked seven goals to one for the remainder of the quarter to take a commanding 26 point lead into the final term.
With the four points close to secured, Lalor again stepped up in the last to kick seven goals to three to take out the 51-point win. Four of the Bloods’ last-quarter goals went to Shepherd who just could not be stopped by the end of the match.
Over the past two week’s he has booted nine goals in the final term and his scintillating form is proving the catalyst for Lalor’s revival in 2012.
Both teams’ midfields played hard, tough footy but the ability of the Lalor players to hit targets helped them secure the win. Those targets were Shepherd and Micallef who were both able to continually take contested marks and then convert their opportunities.
Lalor will now look to secure a third straight win when it returns home to face a Thomastown buoyed by its first win of the season over Hurstbridge.
South Morang will hope to cause an upset when it faces North Heidelberg at Shelley Street Reserve.
Final score: South Morang 11.16 (82) def by Lalor 20.11 (131)
