The Courier |
North Ballarat City remains undefeated not because of an emphatic performance of its own, but rather an incompetent, almost comical display in front of goal by Darley at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
NORTH BALLARAT CITY 7.10 (52)
DARLEY 3.18 (36)
Up against the Devils in what was easily its toughest encounter thus far this season, North City kicked five goals to two in the last term to run out 16-point victors in slippery conditions.
A goalless first quarter by both teams, in which numerous chances were squandered, set the tone for the remainder of the match.
North City boom recruit Derek Micallef kicked the first goal at the three-minute mark of the second quarter.
Micallef finished with three goals and looked the player most likely to break the game apart, yet he too suffered from the yips on more than one occasion.
For Darley, the biggest culprits in front of goal were Dane Grenfell (2.4), Jake Edwards (1.4) and Travis Minns (0.3).
Incredibly, having kicked just 1.17 up until three-quarter time, including seven straight third quarter behinds, Darley held a two point lead at the last break.
"We should've been 10 goals down at three-quarter time, no doubt about that," North City coach Robbie Waters said after the match.
The inability of Darley's forwards to reward their teammates' hard work up the ground had a deflating effect, with North City kicking two goals in the opening three minutes of the final quarter to take a 10-point lead and despite two late goals from Grenfell, it was never headed from there.
North City backman Ryan Luke reinforced his claim for best on ground honours with a spectacular mark late in the game.
Devils coach Rod MacPherson made no effort to hide his disgust in the rooms afterwards, singling out a number of players for their inept kicking and lax attitude towards training.
His anger was intensified given Darley's recent history of inaccuracy in front of goal, including 9.14 and 6.18 in narrow losses against Sunbury and Ballarat respectively.
"If some of our forwards are even 20 per cent professional, they'll go down to the park tomorrow and have 50 shots minimum, but I bet not one will feel guilty enough to do that," he said.
"You don't have to be Einstein to see that's (inaccuracy) what's costing us games. It's a sign of mental weakness."
While pleased to take the four points, Waters conceded his team remained unbeaten only because of the Devils' inability to convert.
"It was definitely a case of Darley losing it, rather than us winning it," he said.
"I put it on some of the boys at three quarter time to step up and to their credit they did, which shows some fight, but we were lucky to still be in it."
North City remains at home next week against Melton South, while Darley has the bye.
