EIGHT goals was all Strathmore needed to hand Keilor its 10th loss of the Essendon District Football League premier division season in a slog at Keilor Reserve on Saturday.
The ground more closely resembled a mudpit than a football oval, with five games in the previous 24 hours chopping up the surface.
Keilor, seventh on the ladder, managed only five goals in the 8.12 (60) to 5.9 (39) loss.
PICTURE GALLERY: Keilor v Strathmore
The Blues trailed by two at quarter time, but Strathmore’s 17-point half-time lead was significant in the conditions.
By three-quarter-time the Mores were 36 points up, but Keilor won the last quarter with three goals to one.
Blues coach Mick McGuane identified Strathmore’s twin targets Jordan Doering (four goals) and Todd Grima (two) as the difference.
“They found a way to get the ball inside their forward 50 fairly often and it was no coincidence those two were the difference,” McGuane said.
“In the second and third quarters they got a hold of us. It was a very hard day in trying conditions and it was frustrating for both sides.
“Credit to our players; we fought it out well and we were very good in the last.”
Neither Jason Williams nor Jason Butty played for Keilor, hurting its chances of snatching a much-needed win.
McGuane maintained that the Blues would play their remaining four matches — against Oak Park, Maribyrnong Park, Essendon Doutta Stars and Airport West — with the same intensity and with as strong a team as they could field.
In division 1, Taylors Lakes bounced back from a hefty loss to Northern Saints with a comfortable 7.8 (50) to 3.8 (26) win over Hadfield.
It was another low-scoring affair, with Hadfield held goalless until the final term — to three-quarter-time the Hawks had just four behinds. The win keeps the Lions four games clear of West Coburg inside the top four.
In division 2, Hillside had no troubles in registering a 19.25 (139) to 1.5 (11) win over hapless Jacana.
Paul Edwards moved 13 goals clear atop the goalkicking table with another bag of six. The Sharks sit three games clear of Moonee Valley in second.
The battle for finals is still well on a little further down the ladder after Keilor Park romped to a 10.18 (78) to 4.3 (27) win over Coburg Districts.
The Devils are fifth, equal on points with fourth-placed Roxburgh Park but more than 12% behind on percentage.
Leading by seven at quarter-time, Keilor Park set up the win with a five-goal-to-one second term.
