By Lance Jenkinson
St Albans continues to turn up and give the finals contenders a run for their money in the Western Region Football League division 1.
The Saints were competitive once again with little to show for their toil in a heartbreaking four-point loss to Spotswood at McLean Donald Reserve on Saturday.
Saints football manager Bill Asani acknowledged the gulf in class between his side and the three finals-bound teams they have been competitive with in the past three rounds, but it makes the honourable losses no easier.
“It’s tough to swallow,” Asani said.
“It’s great to be competitive in terms of the game, but we’re just not finding that last little bit of effort to finish off games.”
Spotswood coach Anthony Eames praised
St Albans for a hearty pre-finals tune up.
Instead of putting the cue in the rack, the Saints players were doing their utmost to finish a tough season on a positive note.
“We lack that little bit of class,” Asani said.
“Our last three games against three of the top-five sides have been very creditable.”
The game was there to be won for St Albans.
They led by two goals midway through the third quarter, but Spotswood adapted better when the rain and hail set in late.
“Spotty are a good hard-bodied team and we gave them a lot of physical pressure, but they just played better footy for a 10-minute period and they adapted quicker to the wet weather than what we did,” Asani said.
Tom Donoghue produced a doozy for
St Albans in the midfield. He had the ball on a string all game.
“He was by far our best player,” Asani said.
Leigh Brennan led the way up forward for
St Albans with three goals, while Mason Mitoiu was commended for negating Woodsmen veteran Tom Langlands and David Kovacevic had a great battle with Murray Boyd.
“We had some of the, if you like, bottom six or eight players on the list, guys that have only played a handful of games, who were very good for us as well,” Asani said.
St Albans has encountered nagging issues at every turn this season.
The Saints were slow out of the blocks as they adapted to a new game plan under first-year coach Brad Murphy, they had a raft of injuries that put stress on the playing list and at one stage had nine players overseas.
They appear to be a more settled unit over the past month and are delivering better performances.
The Saints face Sunshine Kangaroos in their final home game of the season at Kings Park Reserve on Saturday, followed by a trip to Albion.
Elsewhere in division 1, Deer Park kept its grip on top spot with a 37-point win over Caroline Springs, Fabian Brancatisano kicked seven goals in Sunshine’s 108-point thrashing of Albion, Altona squeezed out a 13-point win over Werribee Districts and Hoppers Crossing cruised to a 51-point win over Wyndhamvale.
In division 2, Albanvale’s club games record holder Dean Formosa notched his 450th game.
The Cobras could not get the job done though, losing by 34 points to West Footscray.
In division 3, Sunshine Heights stayed in the finals chase with a 60-point win over Glen Orden, but Braybrook kept its two-game break over the Heights with two games to go in a 106-point thrashing of North Sunshine.
