Lower Plenty ends winless run, pipping Old Paradians in thrilling finish

Lower Plenty put an end to its seven-game losing streak against Old Paradians but not without some late drama.

Lower Plenty players celebrate a goal. Picture: Field of View Photography

Lower Plenty is back on the winners’ list.

After seven straight defeats, the Bears bounced back with a much-needed seven-point win over Old Paradians at Montmorency Park on Saturday.

The winless run saw the club go from NFNL Division 2 finals contender to outsider, still a mathematical chance, three games behind Northcote Park with three games remaining.

Lower had lost four games by 12 points or less in that time, incredibly, including two by just one point and one after the siren.

And the 11.5 (71) to 9.10 (64) triumph certainly wasn’t without some late drama of its own.

Zach Stowell in action for Lower Plenty. Picture: Field of View Photography

The Bears led by 18 points at three-quarter-time and Riley Alexander made it a 24-point game early in the last.

However, sparked by an electric three-goal burst from Lachie Kerr, Paradians charged home with four unanswered majors to level the scores with under five minutes left.

Facing the prospect of another agonising loss, the home team responded and Jasper Collins stormed out of the next centre bounce and his long kick was rushed through, putting it back on top.

With a minute remaining, Emett Wise pounced on a loose ball to kick the match-winner.

Coach Travis Stephens was proud of his team’s fight at the death.

“After seven in a row, it was reward for effort,” Stephens said.

“We’ve got to rely on Northcote Park losing all three and us winning all three, so we’re still a chance.

“The first time we played Parade, they were adapting to Div 2 and they’ve done that now, they’re a really good side.

“So it was a really good win for us.

“They got off to a good start and pegged it back at the end too, so we had to dig deep at the end to hold on.”

Old Paradians got an early jump, taking an eight-point lead to quarter-time.

Lower Plenty responded in the second, piling on five goals to one to turn the deficit into a 14-point advantage at half-time.

The Bears remained on top in the third to extend the lead before the Raiders made their late charge.

Stephens said morale had remained high despite testing times on the field.

“Morale had been really good, we were getting good numbers at training,” he said.

“Everyone was still up and about, which was good, because it’s easy to switch off at this time of the year.”

Mitch Brownhill played his best game for his new club, earning best-on-ground honours in the win.

Seth Hill, Billy Reardon, Jasper Collins, Josh Turner and Lewis Tsourou also impressed.

Riley Alexander, Daniel James, Collins and Wise all kicked two goals.

“Mitch has had a pretty good month,” Stephens said.

“He was quiet by his own standards at the start of the year but he’s built into it and playing really good footy.

“Billy Reardon has been really consistent throughout the year, along with Ciaran Porter down back, who’s been in the best 10 or so times in the 15 games.”

For Parade, Darcy Vallance was best afield and Kyle O’Sullivan, Billy Bedford and Sam Philp stood tall.

Kerr’s three goals, all in that fourth-quarter burst, was a match-high.

Lower’s season officially goes on the line next weekend when it travels to premiership fancy Macleod.

The Bears then tackle Watsonia and Panton Hill.

The day also saw club celebrate 30 years of partnership with Research juniors.

The junior-senior football club pathway has seen some outstanding talents move from Main Road to Para Road.

Of Saturday’s senior team, 14 players came through the ranks at Research; Joel Leslie, Seth Hill, Nathan Raphael, Hudson Young, Brixton Timewell, Josh Turner, Lewis Tsourou, Jasper Collins, Felix Bell, Jed Wallace, Billy Reardon, Tyler Wallace, Mitchell Ferronato and Emett Wise

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“It was a really good day, the under-9s and 10s came down and ran out with the players,” Stephens said.

“It was a pretty good day for them, it was nice to see.”

Elsewhere in Division 2, Whittlesea survived a big scare from Thomastown, winning by four points and Macleod was too good for Panton Hill in a 45-point win.

Northcote Park smashed Watsonia by 107 points and ladder-leader Diamond Creek showed fourth-placed St Mary’s no mercy in a 112-point thrashing.