St Mary’s have edged themselves closer to a maiden MC Labour Division 2 finals berth, after defeating Northcote Park by eight points in an entertaining contest at Bill Lawry Oval.
Scores were level at three quarter time before the Burra kicked three majors to one in the final term to keep the Cougars at bay and prevail 8.7 (55) to 6.11 (47).
Two of those goals in the last quarter were outstanding finishes from Joshua Carelli, who kicked each major from tight angles, and put his side in front of two separate occasions. He also produced a goal assist for his team’s third goal if the term in what proved to be a match winning period for the 17-year-old.
Nicholas Gedge and Lachlan Read again excelled in the defensive half, with Jack Bianchin and Tane Cotter leading the way in the middle once again. Jake Halewood also impressed around the ground for the visitors.
James Tadd continued his good form with another solid performance for the hosts, always driving the ball inside the Cougars attacking 50.
Christopher Clark’s clearance work was outstanding and kept Northcote Park in the hunt while forward Alexander Boyse could have made the first half his own, registering six scoring shots in the opening two terms, but managing just one major for his efforts.
With South Morang’s defeat to Diamond Creek, St Mary’s now move into third position on the ladder and sit on the same points as the fourth placed Lions.
Northcote Park meanwhile drop to sixth, with Watsonia’s win over Thomastown pushing them into the top five but are only out of the top half of the ladder on percentage.
It was a slow start to the game with neither side able to register a score within the opening 10 minutes of the match.
The contested game of each team was strong, but the drought was eventually broken through Jake Halewood who calmly converted his shot on goal.
In what was a sign of things to come throughout the opening two quarters, Alexander Boyse would take a strong grab and kick truly to quickly respond for the home side.
Boyse’s marking ability was excellent all around the attacking 50, and if his goalkicking didn’t let him down, he could’ve really controlled the game.
Some clever vision from Leo Amad set up Brock McLennan to convert his set shot from close range to help Northcote Park lead by seven points at quarter time.
The scoring continued to dry up throughout the second term despite there not being a single drop of rain.
Although again, that wouldn’t have been the case if Boyse was able to make the most of his chances, as his presence in the forward line made tough work for the Burra defenders.
The hosts finished with 0.3 for the quarter while St Mary’s found the only two goals of the term after Cameron Dowse and Huon MacGibbon put through set shots.
Trailing by five points at the main break, Northcote Park looked like a completely different side in the early stages of the third quarter.
Matthew Perry, who had spent most of his time up forward throughout the match, kicked his ninth goal of the season in the first minute of the second half before a Matthew D’Angelo major suddenly had Stephen Saddington’s side up by seven points.
That lead would soon extend thanks to a brilliant finish from Clark, who read the ball best from an inside 50 entry and easily snapped it around for a goal.
Northcote Park led by 13 points halfway through the third quarter but as they looked to break the game open, the Burra started to wrestle the momentum back towards their favour.
First, Jeremiah Antypas, who was coming off a six-goal game the week before, got boot to ball close to goal to get one back for the visitors, before Tane Cotter burst through the stoppage and had no problems finding the big sticks to kick an excellent major.
St Mary’s had all the momentum and managed to level the scores before the three-quarter time siren, setting up an enthralling final term.
After some tense moments early in the last quarter, Joshua Carelli produced a moment of brilliance, kicking a major on the run from a tight angle to make it three consecutive goals for the away side.
D’Angelo responded immediately, finishing a nice set shot opportunity to score his second of the afternoon and again tie the scores.
The next two scoring shots went to Northcote Park, giving them a slight lead, but at the 14-minute mark of the quarter, Carelli topped himself, when from the opposite pocket, he found the ball and snapped through a ripping goal under pressure.
It again gave St Mary’s the lead and this time; they wouldn’t lose it again despite the Cougars best efforts. A second goal from Antypas, which was set up by Carelli, sealed the Burra’s eighth triumph of the 2023 campaign.
