Reservoir has made it three in a row with a strong 23-point win over Kilmore at Crispe Park in round 5 of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season.
The home team looked in control all day in the 9.13 (67) to 6.8 (44) result.
Blues fans were hoping that the momentum from the previous week’s come-from-behind win would continue in this match.
The first few minutes looked promising for Kilmore who were constantly in attack. But they missed shots, including a set shot which missed the lot.
Then, against the run of play, the Mustangs went forward where Aaron Edwards received a downfield free kick on the boundary.
His banana kick scored full points and his team took control from that point onwards and thereafter never conceded the lead.
Edwards had another soon after, but then it was Reservoir’s turn to miss the big sticks. They registered six behinds in a row before a goal close to the quarter time siren put the home team 21-points up.
When Edwards dodged an opponent a snapped a nice goal early in the second, the Mustangs looked headed for a big win. But the Blues did better for the rest of the term.
Goals to Lachlan Chesher and Jared Crosbie put their team back in the game, reducing the deficit to a manageable 15-points at the main break.
The adoring home fans loved the third term with Reservoir booting 3.2 to nil to all but put the game out of reach for Kilmore. The visitors had only scored two majors in the first three quarters and required at least six in the final term to prevail.
The Mustangs put the game away early in the last when Nicholas Miliaresis swooped on the ball just inside fifty, steadied and nailed the shot to take the lead out to a game-high 41-points. It was one of two for him on the day in an impressive performance.
The Blues finished well late in the game to trim the margin without ever looking like being a chance to claim victory.
“We suffocated them and didn’t give them the opportunity to win the game”, said Reservoir coach Rohan Davies.
Davies loved the work of Jack Sandric who played as a key defender. Sandric was clean with his ball use, tackled well and showed plenty of courage.
Steven Smith also got a tick for his defensive work and knowing when to go and when not to go and was part of a dominant defence. Jaise Coleman did well in the ruck as well for the Mustangs.
“Full credit to Reservoir, they outplayed us today and we need to do better”, said Kilmore coach Paul Derrick who has connections with Reservoir coach Davies from their time at Mernda.
Derrick loved the work of Marcus Larcoria who continued his great season and kept dangerous forward James El Moussalli to two majors. He also praised the efforts of Grant Paxton on Edwards, who kicked four majors from limited possessions.
Blues fans will rue the fact that their players were unable to use the footy well and hit targets, but some of that was created by the pressure applied by the Mustangs who won the clearances as well.
The win puts Reservoir inside the top 5 for the first time since their premiership season of 2015.
