West Preston-Lakeside claims convincing win over Northcote Park to remain in touch with NFL Division 1 top five

WEST Preston-Lakeside led for all but a few minutes of its Northern Football League clash with Northcote Park on Sunday on its way to a convincing 37-point victory.

West Preston-Lakeside's Khodr Waari evades Northcote Park's Lachlan Boscarini. Picture: Josie Hayden.

WEST Preston-Lakeside led for all but a few minutes of its Northern Football League clash with Northcote Park on Sunday on its way to a convincing 37-point victory.

The Roosters were clearly the superior side at J.E Moore Park, but wasted opportunities to shake the Cougars before halftime.

The home side led by 12 points early in the second quarter before Northcote Park responded with the next three goals to seize the initiative.

But West Preston quickly hit back through former Collingwood and Brisbane forward Patrick Karnezis to cut the deficit to one point.

When Karnezis doubled his tally and Luke Lirosi snapped truly out of a pack, the Roosters appeared set to take a handy buffer to the main break.

But a late goal from impressive Northcote Park forward Tom Jackson in time on trimmed West Preston’s lead to six points.

The hosts came out breathing fire in the second half, recording seven scoring shots before the Cougars hit the scoreboard.

After a series of misses left the Roosters coaching staff frustrated, Karnezis provided a touch of class to give his side momentum.

West Preston took a stranglehold on the game in the first 10 minutes of the third term, with David Rodan, Rhett Jordon and Jacob Ramaekers asserting themselves in the middle of the ground.

Northcote Park's Mannon Johnston pushes off West Preston-Lakeside's Kane Heaney. Picture: Josie Hayden.

The Roosters’ advantage stretched to 34 points before Jackson kept Northcote Park in the contest with the final two goals of the third quarter.

The Cougars dominated territory early in the last term but were unable to make their efforts count.

Ramaekers made them pay at the opposite end of the ground, receiving two handballs in a scintillating passage of play before slotting home on the run.

West Preston banked its sixth win of the year, 16.7 (103) to 10.6 (66), to stay in touch with the top five after Round 11.

“After the Queens Birthday weekend last year we lost nine in a row,” Roosters coach Leigh Cole said.

“We’ve already got two wins in June and July which is good for us. It’s something we worked on at the start of the season, being able to give consistent performances all through the year.”

Northcote Park coach Harmit Singh said inconsistency was hurting his side.

“Last week was pretty positive but today we were nowhere near good enough,” Singh said.

“It’s disappointing because we need consistency if we’re to be a good side.”

The Roosters next face Heidelberg, while Northcote Park takes on Bundoora.