By AKSHAY KAPADIA
OAK Park hosted Tullamarine in a crucial top four clash at JP Fawkner Reserve.
The Kangaroos were coming off a drubbing of Hadfield while Tullamarine handed the Eagles their first loss of the season.
On Saturday it was second up against fourth as Tullamarine looked to push closer towards Craigieburn on the table, while Oak Park is competing with Hillside for the last spot in the finals race.
It was a slow first quarter, the only goal coming from a free kick inside 50 to Oak Park’s Mitch Burger midway through.
For the majority of the quarter, both teams struggled to convert the small chances in the forward 50 into goals. Early misses from both sides didn’t help their confidence, either.
Things looked better for Tullamarine in the second quarter as they kicked the two early goals, the first coming from Will Becker in the forward 50.
Oak Park struggled in front of goal, kicking four consecutive behinds before they eventually kicked their first second-quarter goal just before halftime.
Despite that, the Demons were only up by two points at the main break.
Demons started well again after the break, kicking the first two goals.
Oak Park hit back kicking the next three goals in succession and taking the lead thanks to Andrew Bouzikas.
Tullamarine fought back in the second half of the quarter, kicking another two goals to the Kangaroos’ one.
At three-quarter time the Demons held a four-point lead, setting up a tense final quarter for both clubs.
Again, Tullamarine got off to a good early start in the final term with Nathan Tieppo kicking the first of three consecutive goals for the Demons.
This gave them a three-goal-plus point lead.
Oak Park came back with two of their own, before Tieppo kicked another for Tullamarine.
The end of the game became a goal-fest as both teams piled on majors and Oak Park kept trying to get close, only to have any possible lead denied by Tulla’s quick replies.
The Demons ended up victors by nine points.
The win sees them hold onto second spot, still one game clear of Westmeadows.
As for Oak Park, they dropped out of the top four following Hillside’s win over Hadfield.
This weekend Oak Park travels to play the Northern Saints while Tullamarine hosts Hillside in the standout Essendon Ford Division 1 fixture of Round 15.
OAK PARK | 11.10-76
Goal Kickers: M. Burger 3, D. Rajab 2, L. Howard, R. Bloomfield, R. Harris, M. Camm, A. Bouzikas, T. Anderson
Best Players: P. Tripp, R. Bloomfield, M. Burger, C. Hare, D. Smith, R. Harris
TULLAMARINE | 13.7-85
Goal Kickers: W. Becker 3, J. Port 2, N. Tieppo 2, D. Brockway, D. Devine, J. Sims, J. Marcy, B. Toniolo, A. Bartrop
Best Players: W. Becker, J. Sims, J. Marcy, D. Bartrop, J. Hardman, D. Simmons
