GREENSBOROUGH recorded a comprehensive win over Eltham in a Good Friday game which had everything at Eltham Central Park.
Leading by as much as 41 points five minutes after half-time, the Boro were challenged by the Panthers in the third term, but were able to compose themselves before running out victors 16.11 (107) to 10.8 (68).
Well over 1,000 people flooded the gates for the blockbuster game, the first Good Friday game hosted in the Northern Football League.
With a strong support base backing them all the way, the Panthers were not able to rise to the challenge early on, with turnovers allowing the Boro to take control of the contest and it stayed like that for the majority of the day.
The Boro started strongly from the outset, kicking the first three goals of the game to race out to a 17-point lead, although Eltham did have opportunities which it was unable to convert.
It was an extremely contested quarter, with neither team able to break the game open on the large ground and goals very hard to come by.
After missing some easy chances, Eltham started to take control of the game and was able to kick its first major through Jay Neagle, who intercepted a Boro kick out of defence to bang home the goal on the run from beyond the 50m arc.
The Panthers controlled possession for the minutes after, but a costly turnover in the middle of the ground saw Liam Bowkett capitalise for Greensborough and gave the visitors a handy 18-point lead at quarter time.
The second quarter was not dissimilar to the first, with contested footy taking over the game.
Both the Panthers and Boro scored two goals apiece for the quarter, with the Boro creating plenty more chances, but kicking an extra four behinds for the term. They still improved on their first quarter lead, going into the second half with a 22-point buffer.
The game started to open up in the third quarter, with the Boro getting the first goal of the term within minutes through Ricky Mullins.
They continued their momentum with another two goals in a row to stream away to a game high 41-point lead, in what looked like becoming a percentage-boosting win.
The Panthers were able to string two goals together to steady the ship, but the Boro responded instantly as Tim Bongetti snapped the ball just short of a contest and it bounced over everyone to go through for a miraculous goal.
Eltham was then able to build some momentum on the back of some Ben Johnson brilliance, shrugging off two opponents to drill it to Harrison Burns who then slotted the goal.
Another two goals in succession – including a beauty from Johnson while hemmed on the boundary line – enabled the home side to close within 16 points of the Boro.
But with the game in the balance, it was the Boro who responded best. Matthew Fowler and Lachlan McQuilken both booted goals late in the term, to give Greensborough a 31-point buffer at the last change.
Eltham started the final term full of running, but could not convert it on the scoreboard, recording only three behinds for their troubles.
A reversed free kick saw the tide switch Greensborough’s way, leading to Tristan Stead converting a set shot to seal the contest early in the last.
The Panthers were able to peg back a couple of goals to get some respect on the scoreboard, but the Boro kicked another two to run out impressive winners by 39 points.
The Boro were led by Bongetti, who bagged four for the day, Michael Hooper and Matthew Fowler. The Panthers’ leading men were Brendan Ryan, Billy Glasgow and Matthew Keys, while Ben Johnson played four solid quarters in his one outing for the club.
Greensborough travels to West Preston-Lakeside in Round 3 in a clash between the league’s two most improved sides, whilst Eltham takes on Montmorency in a twilight clash.
