Greensborough overcame a 17-point deficit in the final quarter to beat Montmorency by three points in a thrilling Round 10 clash at Montmorency Park.
The Boro booted four of the final five goals in the 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78) result to move one-win clear inside the top-five on the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder.
Despite missing a host of key players, Montmorency looked destined to end Greensborough’s winning run when Patrick Fitzgerald kicked the opening goal of the last term.
However, Greensborough rallied and three consecutive goals gave it the lead at the 22-minute mark of the last quarter. It was the first time the Boro had been in front since the opening minute of the second quarter.
The Magpies hit straight back with Fitzgerald’s seventh goal, however in a gripping finish the Boro were able to find a late winner after Josh Callaway was rewarded for a big tackle and converted from 35m with the resulting free kick.
There was still late drama to be had in the final minutes. With the ball locked deep in Montmorency’s forward 50, Fitzgerald snapped out of congestion, only for the ball to bounce to the right side of the goals. A true bounce would surely have won the game for the Magpies.
The close finish could have massive ramifications at season’s end, with the Boro now four points and percentage ahead of Montmorency on the ladder. A win to the Magpies would have put them four-points clear inside the top-five.
Greensborough was well served by a host of its youngsters, with Billy Bedford (three goals) and Michael Croxford enjoying strong games at opposite ends, while John Desmond’s move forward in the last quarter proved a masterstroke.
Callaway had a big impact on the result, providing plenty of dash and kicking two clutch goals in the second half, Jason Rogers was industrious through the middle of the ground, while Jack Johnston and Adrian Cataldo defended well and both found plenty of the ball.
Fitzgerald had looked to be the match-winner for Montmorency in a dominant display inside forward 50. The big man marked everything that came his way and finished with 7.4 on a day where goals were hard to come by.
Joel McLellan’s dominance in the ruck ensured Matthew Hunt and Jesse Donaldson found plenty of the ball at the stoppages, while Billy Jenkin continued his superb year across half back – taking a heap of intercept marks inside defensive 50.
Greensborough started better and should have led by more than five points at quarter time. The Boro couldn’t convert their midfield ascendency into scoreboard pressure, with Montmorency’s first goal, through Fitzgerald, not coming until after the quarter time siren.
The Magpies lifted in the second term as McLellan began giving his midfielder great service in the ruck. The home side kicked two early goals through Nick Snowden and Fitzgerald to take a seven-point lead.
The quarter was riddled by errors from both sides, with Montmorency taking a six-point lead at the main break after Lachlan O’Brien took a strong mark on the siren and converted from close range.
Montmorency took control of the game in the third quarter and raced out to a 19-point advantage when James Brooker kicked his side’s third-straight goal entering time-on.
The Magpies could have sealed the game during this period, but missed some gettable shots late in the term. They were made to pay for the misses as Andrew Stellas and Callaway kicked late goals to trim Greensborough’s deficit to 11 points at the last change.
Montmorency held sway for the first half of the last quarter, however a goal to Rogers at the 15-minute mark sparked the Boro, who finished the game full of running to clinch their fifth win in a row.
Final score: Montmorency 11.12 (78) def by Greensborough 12.9 (81)
