A GOAL to Allan Murray after the final siren gave the Fitzroy Stars a four-point win over Diamond Creek at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
A see-sawing game throughout, it was the Stars who got on a roll at the right moment, as they came out winners 14.12 (96) to 13.14 (92) – their first victory in 2014.
In a nail-biting final term, the Creekers looked to have the game sewn up after a goal to Jason Buhagiar gave them an eight-point lead with under a minute of play remaining.
But a quick reply from Patrick Kelly-Briggs brought the margin back to two points with less than 30 seconds to go.
A quick clearance from Lionel Proctor saw Murray take a great pack just as the final siren sounded. He went back and, with the Stars’ faithful urging him on, slotted the goal that gave the Stars a memorable win.
Diamond Creek was dominant for most of the second half and should have run away with the game.
But to Fitzroy’s credit, it hung in the game and some last-gasp efforts from some of its star players helped give the club a famous win, showing the form that has them instilled as one of the leading Division 2 premiership favourites.
It was the Stars who started the better, kicking three in a row to have an early 11-point lead after conceding the first goal. Malcolm Dow was exerting his dominance, racking up possessions and getting plenty of clearances as he would do for the rest of the match.
Early on the Stars forward pressure was relentless, but the tide began to change midway through the term, as the Creekers began pressing the ball inside their forward half. It led to a great goal to Bryce Adams who brought back the margin back to three points at the first break.
Diamond Creek went into the second term with all the momentum and it kicked three goals to one in the first 20 minutes of the second quarter, to take a very handy 11-point lead.
The Stars were able to get on a roll and their midfielders were applying plenty of pressure on the Creekers’ defence. But they couldn’t convert their chances, with Kelly-Briggs the only goal scorer from that five-minute burst, which reduced the margin to four points at the half.
A great running goal to Dow saw the Stars lead early in the second half but the home side was then outscored by five goals to one as the visitors stretched the lead out to a game-high 22 points with seven minutes remaining in the third term.
The Stars were able to have another late quarter burst, with goals to Mungara Brown and Murray reducing the margin to nine points at the final break.
It was close throughout the final term, with goals going either way during some great free-flowing play.
Leading throughout, it seemed as though Diamond Creek would leave the Stars fortress with the four points, but the Stars never-say-die attitude got them over the line in a heart-stopping encounter.
The Stars were led by Dow, Murray and Clinton Edwards, who dominated the ruck contests all day. The Creekers’ best were Dion Fleming, Rikki Stephens and Stefan Cosma, all showing true grunt and determination in a game which they unfortunately couldn’t finish off.
The Stars take to the road in Round 3 as they tackle 2014 improver Lalor, whilst Diamond Creek also faces a tough encounter when it takes on ladder-leader North Heidelberg, a side coming off two massive wins.
Final score: Fitzroy Stars 14.12. (96) def Diamond Creek 13.14 (92)
