LEBANON Reserve was home to some ferocious footy on Saturday, with Aberfeldie looking to hold onto top spot and Strathmore trying to cling onto a chance at a finals berth in what is a very close top four race.
Aberfeldie’s attack on the ball got them off to a quick start, yet with the wind causing havoc, they were inaccurate in front of goal through the first quarter.
Josh Pound sparked Aberfeldie with his forward pressure and great goal sense, yet Strathmore’s defence held strong against a bombardment of inside 50s.
The inside 50 onslaught was countered by Strathmore coach Nathan Grima - whose intercept marking and on-field leadership helped his side to hold Abers to only three goals with the strong breeze by quarter time.
Aberfeldie shocked the home crowd to start the second with some quick clearance-to-goal opportunities eventually adding up to a seven-to-four centre clearance lead for the quarter.
This lift from the Abers midfield was complemented down back through Josh Toy.
He lifted the visitors with a long chase-down tackle and seemed to always be in the right spot to kill off numerous Strathmore forward forays.
Aberfeldie was ruthless around the contest with 41 tackles for the first half, but with the Griff’s increased numbers around the ball, the game stayed in the balance.
Injuries mounted for Aberfeldie through the second and third quarters and eventually, they only had one bench rotation available.
But you have to give credit to the Griff, though.
The Mores kept Aberfeldie to one goal with the breeze and kicked one against it themselves, putting them in the box seat for the last quarter.
Strathmore was able to lock it in their forward line against the wind and the experience Josh Helliwell and Jaryd Cachia seemed to lift the home side.
The Mores won the third quarter clearances seven to two, which ultimately set them up perfectly to finish the game.
Aberfeldie couldn’t play how they wanted to and this rattled them heading forward.
They often turned it over with poor forward entries, which proved costly.
The pace, tackle pressure and burst out of packs from Victor Carboni was a highlight, yet Aberfeldie simply could not find a rhythm heading forward.
Despite kicking into the wind, Aberfeldie controlled a lot of the play in the final term.
They won the clearance battle, but just couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard.
At the other end of the ground, Shane Foulds was a real threat.
Working hard up forward, Foulds was a dead-eye in front of the sticks.
He was able to kick three majors, including two clutch goals in the last, to steady Strathmore late.
Leading for most of the second half, Strathmore was able to play the game on its own terms and beat Aberfeldie by 14 points, knocking the ladder-leader down to third spot.
STRATHMORE 8.14-62
Goal Kickers: S. Foulds 3, H. McIntosh 3, A. Iacobucci, N. O’Brien
Best Players: A. Iacobucci, S. Foulds, L. Jarrad, H. McIntosh, N. O’Brien, D. Mighell
ABERFELDIE 6.12-48
Goal Kickers: J. Foster 2, C. Hislop, J. Pound, J. Velissaris, M. Williamson
Best Players: V. Carboni, L. Blackwell, J. Toy, C. Hislop, M. Williamson, Z. Hislop
