Two Blues survive scare to keep alive finals hopes

IT was far from pretty but Prahran Assumption stayed within touching distance of the four with an all important win at Toorak Park on Saturday.

What on paper suggested would be a routine home game win turned into a potential nightmare.

The final scoreline of 12-10 (82) to 9-13 (67) does not tell the full story of a tense battle.

The precious four premiership points means heading into the second bye round for the season the Two Blues remain in fifth place, just two points behind fourth placed Oakleigh.

Playing eighth placed Peninsula and with Two Blues playing for their season, for the first 40 minutes you could be forgiven for thinking the teams had swapped identity.

The Pirates took uncontested marks at will and generally moved the ball with aplomb in contrast to the deplorable kicking skills of the Two Blues.

Early in the second quarter the scoreline read Peninsula 4-4 to Prahran Assumption 1-0. 

Finally Jack Matherson snapped the goal drought and soon after Tony Mirabella converted from a free kick.

Jesse Waters goaled on the run and then an audacious dribble goal from Ethan Plaza and the Two Blues were trailing by just three points at half-time.

With star ruckman Rory Brodie sidelined by a knee injury late in the first quarter the Two Blues were in serious trouble in the big man stakes.

Enter first gamer Ben Hann, selected as a key forward option but now tasked with the role of number one ruckman.

Hann was competitive but was looking for petrol tickets even at half-time adjusting to the faster pace of senior football. To his credit he gave a contest when the occasion demanded.

Worryingly the Pirates kicked the first two goals of the third quarter before Matthew Clifford goaled on the run after a chain of handballs.

Beau Adams goaled from the boundary line after a free kick then Peninsula crucially twice missed gettable goals to enter the last term seven points in front.

Sport is often a game of inches and so it proved in the first minute when Peninsula spilt a mark in the goal square which on another day could have been paid allowing Clifford to run into an open goal.

Clifford levelled scores with a point before Peninsula goaled.

Then Mirabella produced some magic after taking a mark on the boundary line 35m out and duly goaled.

When Jake Stent-Powell passed to Mirabella who this time missed from 40m out the Two Blues had hit the front for the first time 12 minutes into the last quarter.

A Clifford mark and goal then a Plaza goal on the run and the Two Blues had taken control.

Tim Maya snapped a goal moments before final siren completing a five goal last quarter.

Co Captain James Musster was again tireless on ball while key defender Jayden Williams continued his stellar season.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 1-0 5-4 7-4 12-10 (82)

PENINSULA 2-4 5-7 7-11 9-13 (67)
Goals. Plaza, Clifford 3, Mirabella 2, Maya, Matherson, Waters, Adams.
Best. Musster, Whiting, Gottschalk, Clifford, Williams, Waters.

 RESERVES

A brave effort by the Reserves with scores level at half-time.
The Two Blues were the better side early in the game but the Pirates upped their intensity and proved too good.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-1 4-2 5-5 7-6 (48)
PENINSULA 2-1 4-2 7-6 10-9 (69)
Goals Bamford, Bedwell 2, Juricic, Grogan, Campbell.
Best. Bamford, Forrestall, Spinks, Woods, Galea, Beddison.