NORTHCOTE Park claimed its first win of the Northern Football League season in dramatic fashion, kicking the last five goals to beat Montmorency by a point at Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday.
Julian Violato kicked the decisive major at the 30-minute mark of the final term, giving Northcote Park the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the match.
Violato’s goal sparked a mad scramble in the final minutes as Montmorency launched a final foray forward but was unable to find a match-saving score.
Cougars coach Jason Heatley said his side was forced to dig deep to overcome last year’s runner-up.
“We fell five goals down halfway through the third quarter so it was looking a bit dire, but the boys showed some real character which was good,” Heatley said.
Northcote Park appeared headed for its third-straight loss for much of the afternoon as Montmorency found answers to each of its challenges.
The visitors led by 30 points when Patrick Fitzgerald goaled at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter before Violato and Patrick O’Connell sparked the Cougars’ comeback.
The pair reduced the margin to 18 points at the final change before O’Connell goaled minutes into the final quarter to give Northcote Park hope.
Both sides found scoring tough for the next 20 minutes until Joel Donaldson slotted a major for the hosts, reducing the margin to five with seven minutes left.
That set the scene for Violato to become the hero, goaling with two minutes left to give Northcote Park a crucial 9.13 (67) to 10.6 (66) win.
The victory lifted Heatley’s side to seventh on the ladder, four points behind fifth-placed West Preston-Lakeside.
Heatley said the Cougars would need to build on their fightback to challenge high-flying Greensborough this weekend.
This article is courtesy of Leader Newspaper.
