The 14.9 (93) to 8.6 (54) win ended a six-game losing streak for the Boro who returned to sixth place on the Division 1 ladder and kept their 2012 finals hopes alive.
Greensborough kicked with a two-goal wind in the first quarter. The game was scrappy early with kicks not finding their targets and the Boro held a narrow seven-point lead at the first break.
Lower Plenty won the stoppages seven to nil in the second quarter and was constantly in attack. Greensborough struggled and couldn’t get its hands on the footy.
After two minutes of play, a free kick and 50 metre penalty gave the Bears’ Nathan Hendry a goal from the square. They then kicked a wasteful 1.7 while totally dominating play.
They were attacking down the scoring side of the ground, but missing some easy shots. But their dominance eventually resulted in goals and they slammed on four more majors to lead by 35 points nearing the main break.
Billy Barden had been a focal point for the Bears, alternating between midfield and the forward line. He missed some chances to give his team a huge lead and finished with four for the day, but it could have been more.
A late goal from a tight angle to Greensborough’s Rhys Boyden, his side’s only score for the quarter, gave the home side a glimmer of hope, but the Boro were still 33 points down at half time.
Following an old fashioned rev up at half time from coach Brian ‘Jack’ Cole, the Boro began to win the clearances. Luke Stanton was moved from the wing to the forward line, and this move proved to be decisive.
Stanton proved the difference between the two sides and kicked six goals in the second half as Lower Plenty coach Gary Ramsay could not find a suitable match-up for him.
The Boro also asked Drew Wilson to mind Billy Barden when he drifted forward. This proved to be another successful initiative.
The Greensborough talls – Joel McLellan and Jamie Craker – began taking contested marks around the ground. Dylan Atkins worked tirelessly in the ruck for the Bears, but he lacked support in the absence of Patrick Flynn.
The Boro was now dominating all over the ground. They booted four goals between the nine to 16-minute mark of the term to breathe new life into the contest.
From that time on, the Bears began to stem the tide, partly due to solid defence, but the Boro wasted chances by kicking to the dead pocket.
Former Boro midfielder Ricky Mullins was among the best for the Bears, but was injured in the third term and did not reappear thereafter.
A late Lower Plenty goal gave it a handy break, but a free and major from 50m to Greensborough’s Lachlan McQuilken on the siren reduced the margin at the last break to just seven points.
The game was in the balance. Greensborough was on top in general play, but had to come from behind while kicking against the breeze.
It goaled first through Josh Riddle, then a Tristan Stead snap fell just short and bounced to Luke Stanton 20m clear in the square for the easiest of goals. The Boro were in front for the first time since early in the second quarter.
Greensborough’s Rhys Boyden took a contested mark and kicked truly. The youngster managed a goal in each quarter and was a good foil up forward, while Taylor Veal was also a handy link man in midfield.
Lower Plenty had run out of puff and lacked one or two big men on the day. But the highlight of the day for the Bears came midway through the final quarter.
Cameron Elmore took an absolute screamer 45m out. He converted the kick to reduce the margin to 13 points.
Regrettably for the Bears, the Boro kicked the next two majors through Stanton and livewire Conlan Gunn. Bang, Bang! Game over.
Lower Plenty was well served all day by Jackson Powell in the midfield and Clint Monger down back.
Looking back, it will rue the missed chances in the second quarter which might have established a match-winning lead. Next week, it hosts the in-form Heidelberg took top place courtesy of a 123-point win over Eltham.
The Boro have had a huge weight lifted from their shoulders and next week travel to Northcote Park in Round 11 for the Neale Carroll Cup.
Earlier, while the patrons at the luncheon enjoyed listening to Bob Skilton and Ted Whitten jnr, the Boro won a tight reserves match by nine points.
Final scores: Greensborough 14.9 (93) def Lower Plenty 10.14 (74)
