By Peter Wilkie

 

Dunnstown vs. Ballan at Dunnstown, Saturday, 21/7/2007

 

Reserves – Dunnstown 3.0 lost to Ballan 16.10

 

 

INJURIES:  Dunnstown D. Box (broken arm)                     REPORTS: -Nil

 

 

Dunnstown withstood a withering Ballan comeback to grab a valuable 23 point win and maintain 4th position on the 2007 Bendigo Bank Central Highlands Football League ladder.

 

After jumping away to a 6 goal half time lead, the ‘Towners were being swept aside by a ferocious Ballan as the Blues charged back in the 2nd half, getting to within 10 points before Dunnstown was able to steady, then forge away to record a character filled win, 13.12 to 9.13.

 

Ballan arrived at Dunnstown needing to win to stay firmly in the Finals race, and played with the intensity of a team with its season on the line.

 

The Blues attacked the ball with vigour, but after kicking the first goal through Michael Carr, Ballan was unable to convert their hard work into scoreboard damage.

 

Dunnstown gradually gathered momentum through their precise kicking to targets, Coach Simon Eason on target with 2 first quarter goals.

 

Despite the loss of David Box with a suspected broken arm early in the second, the ‘Towners looked well on top as they built their lead, with goals to Rhys and Jaye Cahir and Aaron Sawyers stretching the margin to 45 points before Ballan grabbed a much needed major just before half time.

 

Something was brewing in the Ballan rooms, though, and the Blues booted the first via the impressive Lloyd Bennett as they began to scrap and claw their way back, Michael Sacco to the fore as he lifted his fellow midfielders with strength and courage.

 

The Blues poured on the pressure physically and it appeared to be paying dividends as Dunnstown seemed to be hesitant while Ballan charged right in to the contest, Carr’s third bringing them to within 2 straight kicks.

 

Hayden Cartledge bounced back from an early knock to put in a masterful last quarter display, combining with Sacco and Rod Watts to drive the Blues forward, but as often as Ballan attacked the ball was repelled by David Dridan who led the Dunnstown backline brilliantly.

 

After the game, the pain of the loss after such a monumental effort was clear in the Ballan rooms, but ever the sportsman, Cartledge was full of praise for the winners.

 

“There were some good signs in the second half, but when you’re chasing 6 goals it’s always hard,” said Cartledge of his own side, adding “I thought they (Dunnstown) were really good today. They were really hard at it.”

 

Eason was pleased with his team’s efforts.

 

“The boys showed heaps of character today,” said Eason. “We’ve been thereabouts, but that was probably our best 4 quarter effort this year.”

 

Good form, then, to take to Buninyong next week for another big game. Ballan, meanwhile, will take on Newlyn and hope results start to fall their way.

 

BEST PLAYERS: 

DUNNSTOWN – J. Cahir, D. Dridan, R. Cahir, D. Sidebottom, P. Phillips, T. Johnson.

BALLAN - -M. Sacco, H. Cartledge, T. Oliver, A. Farrugia, L. Bennett, D. Mullane.

 

DUNNSTOWN – P. Phillips, S. Eason, J. Murphy 2, J. Cahir, A. Sawyers, J. McKay, T. Robertson, R. Cahir, T. Leonard, D. Riordan 1

BALLAN – L. Bennett, M. Carr 3, C. Cooper 2, D. O’Hanlon 1.