Watsonia responded to their heavy defeat last week and have now entered the top five in the Northern Football League’s second division after claiming a 29-point win over Thomastown at Binnak Park.
After kicking one goal to nil in the opening term, the hosts kicked four goals to three in each of the remaining three quarters to secure an incredibly important 13.14 (92) to 9.9 (63) triumph.
This was a crucial performance from Watsonia as losses from the Bears as well as Northcote Park and Panton Hill in Round 13 see the Saints rise into fifth position on percentage, while Thomastown move to seventh, but only two points shy of the top five.
James Lucente kicked four brilliant goals for Watsonia to maintain his handy lead in the competition goalkicking tally, while Corey Potter slotted two majors and worked hard around the ground.
For the visitors, it was Masaki Miki who proved valiant in his side’s defeat, accumulating many possessions in the middle alongside Lawrence Lopiccolo.
Three majors from Todd Hughes kept the scoreboard ticking, he has now kicked eight majors in his three senior games in 2023.
Both teams struggled to maintain possession from the first bounce in the overcast but still conditions.
To both teams’ credit, the play was relatively open, but the tackling was fierce with high pressure being applied by defenders at either end of the ground, and with the two sides looking to break into the top five, it appeared that both coaches were determined to win with busy interchanges and plenty of on-field adjustments.
The only major of the term came from James Lucente 10 minutes in when he was the benefactor of a free kick off the ball.
His teammate Julian Janev was prominent early, igniting many transitions from half back into their forward 50.
While both sides had scoring opportunities during the quarter, hurried play caused by the defensive pressure at both ends made it difficult to score goals.
Thomastown seemingly had enough of the lack of goals and was quick to hit the scoreboard in the second term as Todd Hughes snapped across his body within the first minute of the quarter.
Possession was shared evenly between the two teams for the next ten minutes, however Corey Potter drifted forward to take a great contested mark, before kicking truly to score Watsonia’s second of the game.
Kobe Van Zwienen was busy in the middle for the Saints, providing great run and carry as well as an ability to lower the eyes to spot up his teammates.
One of those teammates was Kristian Lawson who slotted a major to add to an already healthy scoreline for the hosts.
The Bears were able to respond by kicking the next two goals of the match to keep them within reach as they entered the main change 17 points down.
As they did in the second quarter, Thomastown came out hot in the third term.
Majors from Anthony Capeci and Ross Hatzis within the first five minutes brought the deficit to within a goal.
But Watsonia was able to hit back via Lucente again, as he kicked his third of the afternoon from the set shot. Adrian Alfonsi joined the party by finding the big sticks to push the margin back to beyond two goals.
Their lead was again extended through Blake Charles as he crumbed the ball from his own marking contest and snapped it across his body to float through another major.
Lucente then put his stamp on the quarter as he was set up by a lovely kick from Janev to simply convert his fourth goal.
The margin was 21 points at three-quarter time, with the host’s flurry of majors late putting them in control heading into the final change.
Again, the last quarter started with back-to-back Bears majors, as Hughes and Shannon Ball helped bring the margin back to nine points.
But as they had done all afternoon, the Saints had the answers just as Peter Bugden’s men looked to build some momentum.
They kicked four of the next five majors to round out a deserving 29-point victory and keep their finals tilt intact.
WATSONIA: 1.5 5.9 9.11 13.14 (92)
GOALS: J. Lucente 4, A. Alfonsi 3, C. Potter 2, C. Khoury 2, B. Charles, K. Lawson.
BEST: C. Potter, K. Lawson, M. Brownhill, J. Haber, B. Callaghan, J. Lucente.
THOMASTOWN: 0.2 3.4 6.8 9.9 (63)
GOALS: T. Hughes 3, A. Capeci 2, T. Leonardis, M. Hayse, S. Ball, R. Hatzis.
BEST: L. Lopiccolo, D. Caruso, J. Mazzarella, M. Miki, A. Natoli, T. Hughes.
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