Lower Plenty scored its ninth-consecutive win and moved within percentage of top spot after taking down MC Labour Division 2 ladder-leader Banyule at Montmorency Park South Oval.
The NFNL Match of the Round lived up to its billing, with the home side kicking six unanswered goals in the final ten minutes to record a 21.14 (140) to 14.15 (99) in Round 13.
The result handed Banyule its first defeat of the season, with the two clubs now equal with a 10-1 record with five rounds remaining in the regular season.
When the two sides met back in Round 2 it was Banyule who prevailed by nine points, despite not scoring a major in the second half. On that occasion the two teams scored a combined total of just 105 points.
It was much the opposite this time around, with Lower Plenty prevailing in a shootout that produced 35 goals.
Ben Paterson played a starring role for Lower Plenty, booting five goals while also spending plenty of time through the midfield.
Tom Blake was again a major presence in the ruck, with his impact even more profound when Banyule star Tim Martin went down with a leg injury, which ended his day in the second quarter.
Billy Barden kicked five goals to add to his three against Thomastown the week prior, with his last – a classy snap from the boundary line – sealing the game late in the fourth.
There was some concern for Josh Turner after he went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. Lower Plenty coach Ben Turner confirmed it was only a minor injury and expected the star midfielder to be back playing in a few weeks.
Banyule was kept in the contest by a superhuman performance from Jack Langford – who kicked six goals, including some long-range bombs to the northern end.
The haul returned Langford to the top of the MC Labour Division 2 goal kicking table, with his season total bolstered to 27 majors.
Nick Mayne was a strong performer down back, intercepting well and often kickstarting attacks for Banyule.
Josh Blake was impressive, particularly in the final term, often getting contested ball and clearances for Banyule, while Michael Edwards fought hard when thrown into the ruck and found plenty of the ball around the ground.
Lower Plenty made a dream start, kicking the first two goals in the opening four minutes through veterans Cameron Elmore and Matthew Duckworth.
But Banyule responded in style and kicked five of the next six goals, including three from Jack Langford, to take a 13-point lead. One of Langford’s goals was a long bomb from in front of the Lower Plenty bench.
But just as the ladder-leader looked like it was taking control, Lower Plenty managed to peg them back, with goals to Ben Paterson and Billy Barden giving the home side a one-point lead at quarter time.
Lower Plenty maintained its momentum into the second quarter, piling on the first four goals to stretch the margin to 30 points – an advantage which could have been great but for some wastefulness in front of the big sticks.
Banyule rarely threatened in the second term but managed to stay in the contest courtesy of two long-range goals in the space of a minute from Arben Dani late in time-on, which brought the margin back to 16 points.
Ben Paterson put through his third goal after the half time siren following a downfield free kick, which gave Lower Plenty a deserved 22-point advantage at the long break.
With its unbeaten streak being seriously threatened, Banyule came out all guns blazing to start the third quarter.
Michael Italia put through a goal just 22 seconds into the term, with his side booting three goals in five minutes to bring the deficit back to just four points.
Lower Plenty again managed to claw back control just as Banyule looked set to pounce, with the home side managing to dry up their opponent’s scoring over the next 10 minutes – before piling on four goals in a nine-minute burst to take an 18-point lead into the final change.
The lead was pushed out to 24 points, with Billy Barden ramming home a goal 20 seconds into the final term, which had the crowd in raptures.
But Banyule refused to surrender. The visitors kicked the next three goals to reduce the margin to five points at the 16-minute mark – which made for a grandstand finished.
The margin remained less than a kick for six minutes, before Cameron Elmore marked beside the behind post and converted with a snap to stretch Lower Plenty’s lead to 11 points.
Tom Keys burst out of the midfield for another goal from the corresponding centre clearance, which sealed the win for the home side.
They went on with the job in the final minutes, piling on another four majors in quick succession to romp to a 41-point triumph – a margin which was certainly not indicative of the great battle that was had between the competition’s two benchmark teams.
Final score: Lower Plenty 21.14 (140) def Banyule 14.15 (99)
LOWER PLENTY
Goal Kickers: B. Paterson 5, W. Barden 5, T. Keys 3, M. Duckworth 2, C. Elmore 2, B. Timewell 2, T. Blake, A. Meale
Best Players: L. Deslandes, B. Paterson, T. Blake, B. Reardon, T. Keys, J. Smith
BANYULE
Goal Kickers: J. Langford 6, A. Dani 3, L. Turner 2, R. Blackmore-Moore, M. Edwards, M. Italia
Best Players: J. Langford, M. Edwards, R. Blackmore-Moore, D. McDonald, L. Jacob, N. Mayne
