Watsonia keeps finals hopes alive with critical win over top-five rival Panton Hill

Watsonia is just a game outside the NFNL Division 2 top-five after James Lucente booted five majors to fire the Saints past top-five rival Panton Hill.

Riley Taylor in action for Watsonia. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Just two-and-a-half games separates third from eighth in a impossible-to-predict NFNL Division 2 finals race.

Watsonia confirmed its finals credentials with an 18-point win over Panton Hill at Binnak Reserve on Saturday.

League-leading goalkicker James Lucente was in red-hot form, booting five goals, to guide the Saints to a potentially season-saving victory.

Trailing by seven points at half-time, Watsonia roared home with six goals to two to move within four points of the top-five.

In a dominant fourth quarter, the hosts limited Panton Hill to just two behinds to run out 9.17 (71) to 7.11 (53) winners.

With the game in the balance and their season potentially on the line, Saints coach George Lattouf was proud of the way his players remained relaxed.

“The last quarter we played our brand of footy and very proud of the way we finished off the game,” he said.

“It was just about going back to how we play, fixing a couple of things up at half-time, and we started playing some good footy.

“We were kicking points but I said to the boys ‘eventually it’s going to happen, be patient, and it will turn’.

“We held them down in the last quarter, we missed a lot of opportunities, but we played our brand – our run and carry out of defence and getting it into the forward line.”

Lucente has been one of the surprises of the season, sitting atop the division goalkicking charts with 40 majors in 11 appearances.

After the departure of Kyle Wheatley, Lucente has stepped up with aplomb, booting 10 goals against Epping and has bags of six and five in the last fortnight to surpass last season’s total of 36.

For the second game in a row the star forward was named best-on-ground in the win.

Key defender Josh Boulton was equally significant, helping limit Panton Hill duo Riley Livingstone and Matt Duckworth, while Kobe van Zwienen continued his outstanding season.

“James has been sensational, as you know it comes down from the other players, but he’s kicking some great goals,” Lattouf said.

“Josh is a great defender, he takes on the opposition key forwards, he took care of a number of players and played a good game, he’s had a fantastic season.”

The result sees Watsonia sit seventh, behind Thomastown on percentage, a game outside the top-five.

South Morang sits third on 28 points with St Mary’s and Northcote Park a game behind in fourth and fifth, while the Bears and Saints are another game back and Panton Hill is clinging on on 18 points.

The Redbacks have now lost three games in a row and must make a late run if they are to live up to expectations.

Their season arguably goes on the line next weekend when they host Northcote Park.

Meanwhile, Lattouf’s men face a critical fortnight with matches against St Mary’s and Thomastown likely to have a major say in their finals aspirations.

“It keeps us in the mix, but, as you say we have to take it week by week,” he said.

“It’s a good competition with so many sides even, you never know what will happen on the day.

“We’ve got to switch on, stay focused, and enjoy playing football and good things will happen.

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“It’s a big rivalry St Mary’s, it’s always a tough game and there’s a bit of history there.

“They’ve had the edge on us the last couple of times, it’s a great team, led by Fab, but we’re looking forward to it, we’ll set ourselves and have a crack.”

Elsewhere in Division 2, Eltham overcame a dogged St Mary’s by 15 points, while Diamond Creek smashed Epping by 102 points.

Northcote Park humbled Lower Plenty by 83 points and Thomastown produced arguably its finest win of the season with a 56-point triumph over South Morang at Mill Park Lakes.