Greensborough facing testing three weeks as top-three aspirations go on the line in NFL Division 1

GREENSBOROUGH faces a test of its top-three credentials in the next three weeks with games against fellow finals contenders.

Greensborough coach Ben Turner Picture: Richard Serong

GREENSBOROUGH held onto second spot on the Division 1 ladder after overcoming a determined West Preston-Lakeside on the weekend.

The lead chopped and changed throughout the afternoon, but the Borough was able to hold the Roosters to just a single scoring shot in the final term to record a 23-point win.

The sporadic Greensborough are a game clear in second spot but face a test of their top-three aspirations in the next three weeks with fixtures against fourth-placed Bundoora, ladder-leaders Heidelberg and fifth-placed Montmorency.

Greensborough coach Ben Turner said his side still had its sights on securing a top-three position.

However, inaccuracy in front of goal continues to be a problem for Turner’s side — just three times this season the Borough have kicked more goals than behinds.

Turner his side’s top-three aspirations were on the line in the next three weeks.

“We’re doing OK, our form has been sporadic but we’ve managed to win our past three so that is the positive,” Turner said.

“We seem to be playing some better footy with the nature of the grounds drying up a little bit.

“This time of year, it is just about winning and if you can string together some form that is a real bonus.”

The Borough are expected to welcome back injured quartet Nick Carnell, Josh Griffiths, Josh Callaway and Josh Grubb in the coming weeks.

In other Division 1 results, Bundoora accounted for Eltham by 43 points, Montmorency were left to rue an inaccurate first term against Macleod in its 32-point loss, while Northcote Park shrugged off a competitive Lower Plenty in the second half to record a 41-point win.

In Division 2, Diamond Creek slipped to fourth on the table after a 21-point loss to North Heidelberg, Hurstbridge suffered back-to-back losses after going down to Fitzroy Stars by 29 points, while Panton Hill went down to Thomastown by one-point in a high-scoring thriller.

In Division 3, Watsonia finished 101 points to the good against Kilmore, while St Mary’s accounted for Heidelberg West by 84 points, with Toby O’Meara finishing with seven goals.