Reservoir moved two games clear in fourth position on the Division 3 ladder with a thrilling one-point away win over St Mary’s at Whatmough Park.
Trailing the home side from the 15-minute mark of the first quarter, a late Kent Beaumont goal put the Mustangs in front with just three minutes to play.
From there they were able to hold on for a 12.12 (84) to 12.11 (83) win, atoning for a seven-point defeat to the Burra on home soil in Round 4.
Both sides came out fiercely, attacking the ball with intent, but neither side was able to trouble the scorers.
Beaumont got the away side off to a good start, kicking the first major of the match, before the Burra were able to kick three straight goals to take a slight lead heading into the first break.
In a very even matchup, the game was goal-for-goal for much of the second term with both sides managing three majors as the Burra headed into the main break just three points ahead.
Coming out after half time, both sides found it hard to find the goals.
Twelve minutes were played before St Mary’s forward Daniel Dober was able to slot his fourth of his six goals to push the margin to 10 points.
The Burra extended their lead to a game high 16 points before two late goals to Ashley Flavel and Kelsey Clayton brought the deficit to a solitary point heading into the final term.
As Dober piled on his fifth and six goals for the match, as well as a Sean Hamling major, the Burra again pushed the margin back out to 16 point and looked as though they would run away with the match.
The Mustangs, however, didn’t bow their heads.
Flavel and David McGregor were both able to goal before Beaumont’s dribbling snap at goal put the away side in front for the first time in over 90 minutes of footy.
St Mary’s Nicholas Dean took a strong mark on a tight angle just seconds before the siren sounded and kicked to win the match.
He booted a straight ball, which looked like it would make the journey, but the Reservoir players were able to fist the ball away from goals and celebrate the win.
Jason Dal Santo and Danny O’Sullivan combined well in the middle of the ground all day for Reservoir and were duly named in their side’s best players.
Flavel and McGregor shared the load up forward for the Mustangs, kicking three apiece with Kelsey Clayton and Beaumont each slotting two majors.
Nicholas Daisley and Jake Dambrauskas were both influential for St Mary’s, while Dober’s six goals improved his tally to 17 in eight games.
The Mustangs will look to go another game clear in fourth spot when they host sixth-placed Banyule at Beverley Road Reserve this week.
St Mary’s takes its second bye of the season, before travelling to third-placed Epping in Round 12.
Final score: St Mary’s 12.11 (83) def by Reservoir 12.12 (84)
