Eastern league 2019: Blackburn defeats Noble Park to go 6-1

Blackburn wasted a lot of scoring opportunities but still came out on top of a Noble Park team again inspired by Kyle Martin.

Blackburn sings the song after defeating Noble Park.

Given that both teams kicked 13 goals, it can be safely said that Blackburn defeated Noble Park on points.

The Burners did their best to kick themselves out of it, but in the end they scrapped out a 12-point win in the Eastern Premier match at the Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday, 13.15 (93) to 13.3 (81).

If they had lost, coach Brendan Allen would no doubt have booted a few behinds of his own.

Allen thought his team should have had the Bulls beaten at half time, when they led 6.11 to 4.3.

But Noble Park got a run-on in the final quarter and grabbed the lead halfway through it when captain Kyle Martin marked, took a 25m penalty for a late hit and made the simple set-shot.

Two minutes later Luke Nelson slotted another for the hosts and they were seven points in front.

At that stage the Bulls were on the verge of committing daylight robbery.

But, its resilience better than its accuracy in front of goal, Blackburn fought back.

Jake Hammond kicked his third goal of the match, then scored a point to square it up at 81 points apiece, 13.3 to 11.15.

Noble Park's Yilber “Bella’’ Zijai gets away a handball.

Then came a critical passage of play. The ball was kicked into the Blackburn forward line, and Noble Park defender Ariek Lual was set to take the mark.

But Blackburn’s Julian Soccio was needlessly bumped and awarded a free kick. He used it to give his team a crucial goal and a six-point advantage.

The siren went a fraction before Hammond marked at the top of the goalsquare. He put it through to make the final margin 12 points, the 12 points in the behinds column.

“We made it hard for ourselves!’’ Allen said after the match.

“It’s been a bit of an issue for us in the last couple of weeks. We’re working hard on it. We’ve got Paul Hudson (former AFL sharpshooter) in our coaching group and he’s coming down on Monday. He’s got some work to do.’’

Blackburn was clearly the better team, but its misses kept Noble Park in it.

Still, when the Burners moved 27 points clear early in the third quarter the Bulls were struggling to stay afloat.

But young Ben Marson, after a quiet first half, came into the match with two goals and a physical presence. And Martin, on his way to a match-high 40 possessions, and vice-captain Jackson Sketcher, with relentless run, doubled their doughty efforts, helped by some flashes from Ali Zijai, Cosi Anagnostou and Nelson.

Marson kicks the ball long and well, and he got the Bulls going with a goal early in the final term.

Blackburn's Jake Hammond leads Bull Tom Glen to the ball.

Sketcher, curling one back as he ran away from goal, and Nelson, with a classic crumbing goal as the ball spilt from a marking contest, weighed in too. Then came Martin’s goal after a 25m penalty, and the Bulls were suddenly in front. The roar of their supporters might have been heard in Springvale.

But there was to be no case made out for theft, the Burners finding composure in the final 10 minutes and at last straightening up.

Hammond had a terrific duel with Lual, whose emergence after walking in off the street looking for a game is attracting interest from VFL clubs.

Frankston Dolphins coach Danny Ryan was an interested observer on Saturday and doubtless went away impressed by the tall and rangy right-footer, who took a fine high mark in the first quarter and made a series of spoils with a resolute right fist.

Noble Park's Ariek Lual.

Martin and Sketcher were superb again for Noble Park, and Ben Marson (playing in the team with brothers Jordan and Anthony) lifted just when Noble needed it.

Bailey Lambert, so strong overhead, kicked three goals for the Bulls, who after winning their first three games have now lost their past four.

Still, they ran South Croydon to 13 points last week and Blackburn to 12. They’re frustrated, but they’re not far away.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY

JUNIOR CLUB SUSPENDS OWN TEAM

EDDY BAGS 10 FOR VERMONT

JACANA DROPS OUT OF SEASON

The Burners, enjoying the bright start of 6-1, had excellent service from Hammond, left-footer Jake Harkins, midfielder Nick Gray and pacy wingman Sam Harte, who is listed with VFL club Northern Blues.

“To be honest, we should have been six or seven goals up at half time,’’ Allen said.

“Our stats had us up in the key areas but we just didn’t put them away.

“But it was a really good sign that our players dug in when Noble hit the front, shut the game down and got it back on our terms and kicked a few goals late.

“We’re winning ugly sometimes but it’s been a great start.’’