It was a close contest for all four quarters, with the Demons eventually prevailing 12.13 (85) to 11.9 (75).
On a cold day at Coventry Oval, the Creekers played hosts to a Lalor side it struggled to overcome back in Round 4.
The Bloods weren’t in the position they had hoped for at the start of the year and a win was essential to keep any hopes of a finals appearance alive.
Diamond Creek was looking to get back to winning ways after a 39-point loss at the hands of Epping last week and all signs pointed to a great game.
The ball was bounced and Lalor got the scores rolling with goal kicking super boot Peter Shepherd snagging the first goal of the day.
It was quickly cancelled out by the home side, but Lalor was able to snatch back the lead thanks to a long bomb from Todd Hughes.
From there, Diamond Creek controlled most of the possession and wrested back the momentum.
The Demons kicked three goals in a row, including one from Luke Simpson, to lead the Bloods by two straight kicks at the first change.
Peter Shepherd got his second for the day to kick-start the second term, but again his goal was quickly cancelled out as Diamond Creek booted the next two goals through James Gerbert and Luke Simpson for his second.
With Diamond Creek dominating the play, it looked as though the home side was about to blow Lalor away but missed chances hurt dearly.
Lalor made the most of its fortune and managed to boot the last three goals of the quarter, including Peter Shepherd’s third and another on the siren, to head into the main break with a surprise four-point lead.
Diamond Creek came out in firing in the third, but despite its dominance was again unable to put any scoreboard pressure on the Bloods.
Lalor struggled to even penetrate its defensive 50m yet still held the lead before the Demons finally kicked a major at the 10-minute mark of the quarter to reclaim the lead.
Shepherd kicked two to keep the Bloods well and truly in the hunt before Luke Simpson added his third.
Another late goal to Diamond Creek rounded out the quarter as the home side held on to a nine-point lead at the last change, a margin which still didn’t reflect its dominance all over the ground.
Lalor got the first goal of the last and a major upset was brewing as the Bloods seemed to have more run early in the fourth.
But it didn’t last as the Creekers got the next three, including one from Brett Godfrey to put the game away.
Shepherd booted the last goal of the quarter but it came too late as the Creekers held on for a 10-point win.
Luke Simpson led the way up forward for Diamond Creek and finished with three while Ryan Burton and ruckman Jai Norman were also pivotal throughout the game.
For Lalor, Peter Shepherd was inspiring and his seven goals kept his side in the contest and took his tally for the season to 48.
Next week Diamond Creek plays hosts to South Morang while Lalor will continue its search for its fourth win when it plays Hurstbridge.
Final score: Diamond Creek 12.13 (85) def Lalor 11.9 (75)
