MPFNL: Pearcedale powers home to beat Mornington in Division 2

A suspected broken ankle, a Dayne Beams burst of class and a nine-goal blitz…it was all part of Pearcedale’s eye-popping win in MPFNL Division 2.

Dayne Beams was crucial in Pearcedale’s fast-finishing win over Mornington on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It wasn’t looking good for Pearcedale at three-quarter time on Saturday.

The Dales trailed Mornington by 17 points, key player Jordan Bastinac was off with a hamstring injury and the breeze they’d be kicking into was strengthening.

Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac calmly told his players to believe, and to get the ball to the “hot spot”.

What followed was a win to savour.

Pearcedale fired off nine goals to Mornington’s two to turn a likely defeat into a rousing 24-point victory, 17.10 (112) to 13.10 (88), in MPFNL Division 2.

Bastinac declared it his side’s best win of the season. “Absolutely,’’ he said.

“To come from 17 points behind — that wind was picking up to the Mornington end — and to have a nine goal quarter, yeah, we were just on.

“We speak about hopefully this is the turning point.”

Jordan Bastinac with ice on his hamstring.

The Pearcedale bench celebrate moments after the final siren.

Pearcedale forward Cruiz West ignited his side with two goals in a minute to cut Mornington’s lead to four points.

West underlined his match-winning reputation with six goals for the game.

Dales defender Jack McGuiness was a man on a mission, thwarting attacks and then starting them with commitment, dash and dare.

Similarly, Archie McGuiness sparked the Dales in that last term.

Former AFL captain Dayne Beams went up a gear as Pearcedale grabbed the momentum.

He slotted two clutch goals.

Big ruckman Huw Jones powered on. And Ryan Bastinac stepped up as usual.

The only sour note for Pearcedale was when midfielder Nathan McKenzie, who had also been crucial in the turnaround, lay motionless in the middle of the ground.

He was carted off to hospital with a suspected broken ankle, later telling teammates he’d heard a crack in his lower leg.

Mornington and Pearcedale go at it in the last quarter.

Bastinac said he was proud of his players.

“I don’t think we made many mistakes in the last quarter,” he said.

“It certainly helped. We were pretty clean with the ball. We were able to capitalise and score.”

Beams has improved his fitness and touch each week, and is now impacting games.

“I thought Beams was critical in that last quarter,” Bastinac said.

Bastinac said Jack McGuinness, who did a good job on Mornington spearhead Jackson Calder, was versatile enough to play “on all types’’.

“He’s undersized but he competes really well,’’ Bastinac said.

Bastinac added: “Nathan McKenzie started us off in the midfield, before unfortunately he got hurt. Archie McGuinness stepped up in the last quarter in the midfield. Luke Settineri, his pressure in forward half, was good. Big Huw Jones was good in the ruck, gave us first possession.’’

Pearcedale is 3-4 and hosts ladder leaders Karingal next.

The Dales’ reserves side also had a rousing win, defeating the previously undefeated Mornington by 17 points, with Bailey Wood, Tom Moscrop and Jeremy Daniel among the best players.