Panton Hill ended their three-game losing streak in the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 2 competition, after putting together a crucial 18-point win over Northcote Park at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
This was a highly anticipated match between two sides who are set to be fighting out for a top-five spot for the remainder of the season, and it was the Redbacks who turned their Round 3 loss to the Cougars around, prevailing 9.14 (68) to 7.8 (50).
Panton Hill moves up to seventh as a result of the victory, just two points away from the Cougars who remain in fifth position. 10 points now separate fourth and seventh with six games to go.
Charlie Cleary returned to the Redbacks outfit and made it look as though he had not missed a match, dominating around the ball along with Josh Callaway. who too was strong around the contests for the home side.
Meanwhile, Brock McLennan was enormous around the ground for the Cougars, including a brilliant effort in the final term as he tried to help his side produce an extraordinary comeback. James Tadd too continued his brilliant form following his last match.
Janus Waldron opened proceedings just two minutes into the match, getting on the end of some great transitional work by the visitors.
Riley Livingstone was then able to respond for the Redbacks, taking his opportunity after a fumble from the Cougars’ defensive unit by kicking his 22nd goal of the season.
A tight first quarter saw both sides score no further majors for the term. Northcote Park had the ascendency going forward, but the Redbacks always had spare numbers back, and were able to intercept almost every entry into their defensive 50.
What hurt more for Northcote Park was an injury to Lucas Perry in the first quarter which would see him miss the remainder of the match.
Meanwhile, when Panton Hill would go forward, they would be wasteful with their chances, kicking five behinds from their six scoring shots to take a three-point lead into quarter time.
It looked as though those behinds would come back to haunt the hosts in the early stages of the second term when Christopher Clark found the big sticks to put Northcote Park in front.
But again, the Redbacks responded straight away, with Samuel Parks winning the centre clearance to hit Livingstone in the lead who was able to kick his second for the match.
The final goal of the quarter came after Clark, who had a brilliant overall term, speared a kick to Brock McLennan, who converted truly after the halftime siren to level proceedings at the main break.
Panton Hill was unfortunate to not have a lead at halftime, after having plenty of possession and having produced five more scoring shots than their opposition.
But Simon Amore’s men looked like a determined outfit coming out of the halftime break and immediately got to work to gain some reward for their effort.
The home side kicked the first five goals of the third quarter, running all over the Cougars and dominating when it came to stoppages.
Maxwell Brook was a force inside 50 during his side’s dominant period, leading the way with two goals.
Jordan Perry was able to kick a much-needed major for the Cougars late in the quarter, but it was the Redbacks who were threatening to run away with the match, taking a 22-point lead into the final change.
An intense start to the final term was played out, with no goals kicked in the first 12 minutes of the quarter.
When Matthew Duckworth kicked truly halfway through the term, it put Panton Hill up by a game-high 28 points, all but assuring a victory for his side.
But Northcote Park had one final surge in them. Alexander Boyse, who had been relatively quiet in the lead-up, took a mark following a quick centre clearance by his side.
He converted and then found the goals again just minutes later to provide a bigger spark for the visitors.
Daniel Tallariti soon got in on the action, kicking his first major since Round 1 to suddenly reduce the deficit back to 12 points, keeping a potential comeback well and truly alive.
Just as it looked as though the Cougars were flying towards the lead, Panton Hill co-captain Samuel Parks would produce the sealing goal for his side, bursting through from the back of a stoppage and sailing his shot on goal through the big sticks.
The siren would sound 90 seconds later, as Panton Hill prevailed for their fifth win of the season.
PANTON HILL: 1.5 2.9 7.10 9.14 (68)
GOALS: R. Livingstone 2, M. Brook 2, T. Duckworth, M. Duckworth, S. Parks, O. Parks, B. Sobol.
BEST: C. Cleary, J. Callaway, N. Parks, B. Sobol, M. Duckworth, B. Donehue.
NORTHCOTE PARK: 1.2 3.3 4.6 7.8 (50)
GOALS: A. Boyse 2, J. Perry, B. McLennan, D. Tallariti, C. Clark, J. Waldron.
BEST: B. McLennan, J. Tadd, D. Taylor, C. Clark, A. Punshon, J. Naddaaf.
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