The lead changed eight times during the afternoon but for the 13th time in 14 weeks, the Magpies won the final quarter to emerge with a 16.15 (111) to 15.7 (97) victory.
Midfielder Jesse Donaldson was the star for his side, winning plenty of quality disposals and running forward for four goals – including the match winner with three minutes remaining on the clock.
Backup ruckmen Scott Nugent was also instrumental – rucking for the majority of the second half after first choice ruckman Aisake O’hAilpin received a red card for an incident on Josh Riddle just minutes before half-time.
After a quiet opening three terms, Patrick Fitzgerald was dominant in the final term – booting three of Montmorency’s five goals in the last quarter, all of which came from strong overhead marks.
For Greensborough, defender Mitch Anderson was superb. The youngster took countless strong marks deep in defence and provided great drive, while midfielder Lachlan McQuilken accumulated plenty of possessions due largely to his admirable work rate and hard running.
Trailing by one point at three-quarter time, Montmorency peppered the goals early in the last quarter but could muster only three behinds as Greensborough’s young defence stood defiantly.
It took a stroke of brilliance from Fitzgerald to get the first major of the last quarter on the board. The big forward drilled a 20m set shot from outside the boundary line to give his side an eight-point buffer.
Scott Nugent beautiful palmed to Ryan Jackson from the resulting centre clearance and the midfielder streamed to 50m before kicking a raking goal on his right boot. It was to be a telling blow with the Boro never again able to close within a goal of the visitor.
The host kicked three goals in the final quarter, but each time Montmorency had the answer as it claimed its 12th win of the season. Heidelberg’s win over Bundoora means the Tigers and Magpies are now two games clear atop the Division 1 ladder in a two-horse race for the 2012 minor premiership.
With their finals hopes all but dashed and playing solely for pride, the Boro came prepared from the first bounce in front of a crowd that featured many of the club’s former legends.Cameron Jordan snapped the first goal in the opening minute of the game as the Boro controlled the first five minutes of the match.
Stung into action, Montmorency responded with three consecutive coast-to-coast goals, with each of Daniel Keenan, Dean Limbach and Donaldson on the end of beautiful chains of play as the Pies established a nine-point buffer.
Limbach looked dangerous in the first term and kicked two majors, but two goals in a minute to McQuilken and Eamon Jenkins put the Boro back in front midway through the quarter.
Goals to Kayne Pettifer – from a miraculous left foot snap from just inside the boundary – and Donaldson gave the Magpies a five-point buffer at quarter-time and when Ben Walton kicked a thumping set shot in the first minute of the second term, the warning bells were ringing for the Boro.
However, the home side rallied and managed to control possession for the majority of the quarter. It was able to nullify the impact of Daniel Keenan who was uncontrollable in the opening quarter, while the defensive pressure applied in the Boro’s forward half caused many mistakes from Montmorency’s half back line.
McQuilken kicked his second after Keenan and O’hAilpin spoiled each other in a marking contest, then Josh Grubb snapped truly after intercepting a Montmorency switch across goal. When Riddle converted from the goal line after O’hAilpin received his marching orders, Greensborough was in front by a goal at half-time.
Montmorency dominated the opening ten minutes of the third as make-shift forward Shane Tennant marked everything that came his way. He kicked a goal after a strong mark 30m out and then set up Donaldson for his third of the afternoon.
But Greensborough again responded when it looked in serious trouble and four goals in eight minutes helped open up a 13-point buffer.
Ruckman Joel McLellan moved forward to great effect and booted two majors during the onslaught. After impressive build up work from Tristan Stead and Riddle, he slotted a superb set shot from deep in the forward pocket, before kicking a second after receiving a free kick from a boundary throw-in.
Tellingly, the Magpies rallied late in the third and consecutive goals from Walton and Pettifer – again another fine left foot snap while running away from goal – kept the Magpies in touch which provided the platform for a the final quarter charge.
The Magpies will look to exact revenge on arch-rival Lower Plenty next Saturday after losing in a shock 11-point result to the Bears in Round 7. Greensborough heads to Eltham looking for its sixth win of the season which would surely end the Panthers’ finals hopes.
Final score: Greensborough 15.7 (97) def by Montmorency 16.15 (111)
