EFL 2018: Bayswater delivers under pressure to secure finals spot, defeating Park Orchards by 51 points

UNDER pressure, Bayswater started the round with its finals spot up for grabs. But it finished the weekend with its place in the top four secure.

BAYSWATER started the round with its finals spot up for grabs.

It finished the weekend with its place in the top four secure after a 51-point romp over Park Orchards, ending the Sharks’ hopes for finals action.

If the game wasn’t as good as over by quarter-time, it was decided by the main break.

DONCASTER SURGES TO DEFEAT NOBLE PARK

UNDERMANNED VERMONT SHOWS FIGHT

KINGS LIVE UP TO THEIR NAME TO TAKE SECOND

The Waters went to the first change with a 24-point buffer and extended that advantage to 53 points at halftime.

Park Orchards could manage just one goal in the opening term and was kept scoreless in the second as Bayswater went on to record a 14.13 (97) to 7.4 (46) win.

With Park Orchards needing to win to keep its finals hopes alive, Bayswater captain Joel Galvin said he did not expect such an emphatic result.

“It was definitely surprising, we did play pretty good footy, had them on the back foot straight away,” Galvin said.

Bayswater has clinched its finals spot after Saturday’s victory.

“We started the game off real well and just set the benchmark for the day after that.”

Aaron Cotte finished with three goals to continue his fine season, while Anthony Van Rooyen, Jess Moore, Malcolm McGillivray-Smith and Craig O’Reilly were other notable contributors.

A year after relegation from Division 1, the result will have Bayswater play in an elimination final against one of Doncaster East, Lilydale and Upper Ferntree Gully.

Galvin said a winning mentality had been the key to turning the club’s fortunes around after just two wins in 2017.

“You play good footy in second division, seven, eight times out of 10 you win but in first division if you play really good you might be lucky to win one or two,” Galvin said.

“It’s probably just getting that consistency back again of playing four quarters because if you lapse for 15 minutes in first division, you get smacked, but if you lapse for 15 minutes in the division we are now, you can hold stead.”

Bayswater will close its home and away season with a home game against Upper Gully next weekend before travelling to Walker Reserve to play Wantirna South.