Back-to-back MC Labour Division 2 wins for the first time in club history have boosted Laurimar’s hopes of survival in 2024, following a 25-point victory over Northcote Park at Laurimar Reserve.
That’s despite the Cougars kicking the first five goals of the game to lead by as much as 29 points at the 10-minute mark of the second term.
The Power then stormed home, with a six-goal second quarter setting them up to boot 10 of the last 11 majors of the match to prevail 10.9 (69) to 6.8 (44) in trying conditions.
Jimmy Atkins’ men now have a genuine opportunity to stay in Division 2 for another season, with their third win of the 2024 campaign putting them just two points behind ninth placed Watsonia with three games to play.
It could mean the clash between the Power and the Saints in Round 18 decides which of the two teams will avoid relegation.
Northcote Park’s defeat all but ends their slim finals hopes, as they sit 10 points away from the top five, however they are now only a game ahead of Laurimar but do have a superior percentage.
The Power’s second half surge was led by Kaiden Arthur, as while he kicked two majors in the third term, his work in the middle of the ground proved critical in his side claiming the four points.
Joel Lawson also impressed and played further up the ground on multiple occasions to provide extra support for his teammates. He still finished with two goals of his own to take his season tally to 34.
For the Cougars, Jordan Perry was again impactful in midfield, especially early in the game where he was bursting out of stoppages to continuously send the ball forward for his team.
Key forward Jacob Thompson made the most of the opportunities he was given, taking a plethora of contested marks in the wet and booting two majors to put the visitors in control throughout the first half.
The first five minutes of the matchup determined what spectators were in for; a scrappy contest in the wet.
Northcote Park’s Damon Marcon opened the scoring after a great snap in the forward pocket, rewarding his side for the domination of territory they held in the early moments of the game.
Laurimar couldn’t find clean possession of the football initially, only managing quick ineffective kicks into their forward half, allowing for the Cougars’ defence to repel multiple defensive 50 entries.
Jordan Perry then stamped his own authority on proceedings by adding a major to his name following some terrific, contested work in the middle of the ground.
As play resumed after his goal, he was immediately able to send the ball Northcote Park’s way with another great centre square clearance.
A great moment came from Abudin Awow to finish the term, as his soccer goal signalled his first senior major in his first senior game for Northcote Park, which took the lead out to 16 points at quarter time.
Cougars forward Jacob Thompson was quick to make his presence known in the second quarter as he kicked the first two of the term. His second major was a terrific one, as he burst through the stoppage before snapping truly on his left boot.
The margin had ballooned out to 29 points as Anthony Palmer’s men threatened to keep piling on the scoreboard pressure.
But Laurimar’s Josh Leather gave the home team some reprieve, kicking the side’s first major of the afternoon 11 minutes into the second quarter after receiving a free kick and a 50-metre penalty.
The local crowd didn’t have to wait long to see their side add to their tally, as Joel Lawson got his afternoon underway with an opportunistic goal to give the Power a little jolt midway through the second.
Soon after, Cooper Herbert kicked the goal of the day with a brilliant snap deep in the forward pocket to help Laurimar produce their third unanswered goal.
The second quarter charge continued from Jimmy Atkins’ men, as they went on a tear to kick three goals in the final four minutes of the first half, with Lawson, as well as Jacson Cecil and Jai Langford all hitting the scoreboard to remarkably help their side lead by eight points at half time.
Laurimar didn’t stop finding the big sticks as the second half commenced, with Arthur having no problems slotting the team’s seventh straight major.
Fatigue was creeping into Northcote Park’s game as after such a strong start, they found themselves chasing their opponents for most of the afternoon.
When Campbell Walker produced a goal of his own, the margin was out to 20 points at the 10-minute mark of the third term, and suddenly it was the hosts threatening to put the game to bed.
Northcote Park eventually hit back through Macron’s second major, which ended an eight-goal run by their opposition, but Arthur would respond again for the Power, with a cool, calm, and collected set shot goal from 35 metres out to put his side in the box seat with a 20-point three quarter time lead.
The final quarter saw the intensity of the contest heat up, with the match becoming fiercely contested.
Northcote Park willed themselves forward to try and mount a comeback, but the Laurimar defensive unit were up to the task, either taking strong intercept marks or bringing the ball to the ground, to allow their teammates to produce rebound 50’s.
As the term wore on, it was clear that the Power had done enough to prevail, with Aidan Clarke’s set shot conversion on the full-time siren capping off a brilliant 25-point win for the hosts.
