TAYLORS Lakes sounded an ominous warning to the competition in the Essendon District Football League division 1 on Saturday, beating top-of-the-table Northern Saints by five points.
The Lions have now won four straight games – their last loss was to Northern Saints in round 13 by 74 points – and, although consigned to fourth, will be encouraged heading into finals.
Taylors Lakes hosts Glenroy this Saturday in the final home-and-away match of the season. The Lions will then take on the third-placed team in a semi-final.
The Saints took a four-point lead into quarter time against Taylors Lakes, but were made to regret poor kicking for goal: 1.7 in the opening term and 1.8 in the second left the door ajar for Lakes, who strode to an eight-point half-time lead.
The second half was also tightly contested, with Taylors Lakes, which led all day, unable to break away. The Saints got within a goal in the last quarter but could never kick the sealer to steal a win.
Mark Xuereb kicked three for the winners, while Matt Morelli and the returning Mark DeSousa were impressive.
Coach Steve Burns said his players’ physical presence was the difference.
“The last time we met they overpowered us,” he said. “They really took it up to us, so the really pleasing thing today was that we were able to get our own back. We got four or five players back today so if we can get through unscathed against Glenroy we’ll go into finals with a good preparation.”
In division 2, Keilor Park shot back into finals contention with a 53-point win over Roxburgh Park. With one round to go, the Devils are fourth and a game ahead of Roxburgh Park in fifth, but the Devils play top side Hillside this weekend while Roxburgh Park takes on Coburg Districts.
Hillside beat East Keilor by 50 points, while in Premier division, Keilor beat Maribyrnong Park by 11 points.
