Avondale Heights and Strathmore can’t be split in top-of-the-table EDFL clash

IT WAS a top-of-the-table clash many tipped to be a close affair. But Avondale Heights’ match with Strathmore could not have finished closer in the Essendon District Football League on Saturday.

THEY both had 12-2 and sat in the top two spots on the ladder last week.

And on Saturday, Strathmore and Avondale Heights could still not be split.

The pair fought out the first draw of the season in the Essendon District Football League Premier Division in a match that gave fans a taste of what is to come as finals edge ever closer.

Strathmore had more scoring shots but the Heights would not go away, kicking the last two goals of the game to walk away with two points in the 9.14 (68) to 10.8 (68) result.

“It’s better than a loss. I’ll always say that,” Heights coach Saade Ghazi said.

“At the end they probably had the ball in their forward line for the last two minutes but we were good enough to hold on for a draw. So there were some good signs there.”

It was a return to form for the Heights, who had been on shaky ground in recent weeks after winning their opening 11 games of the season.

The draw also came despite the side having just three goal-kickers, Dean Galea (six goals), Patrick Rose (three goals) and Luke Cartelli (one goal) the only players to find the big sticks.

With only three rounds to go in the regular season, the Heights are all-but locked in for a top-two finish to the year.

But Ghazi said his side would be looking to continue its re-found form despite a softer run home.

“We know that this week Doutta Stars at Doutta Stars will fancy themselves against us,” he said.

“We probably lack a little bit of leg speed so on that big ground we’ll have to be at our best the way we use the footy. Then we’ve got Pascoe Vale at home and Keilor away. So they’re all sides either trying to stay in the four or trying to avoid relegation. It’s a great comp.”