North Ballarat were able to hold their nerve and grab a last gasp victory against the Lions in a hotly contested final half of football.
Play started in a frantic manner with the ball going end to end on a slick Piranha park deck, in perfect afternoon conditions.
North Ballarat struck the first blow of the game kicking two unanswered goals off scrappy Coburg checking.
Peter McEvoy answered back from the forward pocket sparking the Lions who had the next seven inside fifties, however, they could not convert kicking four consecutive behinds.
Daniel Younan was finally able to get on the board from a free kick, but further Coburg undisciplined play saw North Ballarat go into quarter time 18 points in the lead.
Coburg fired out of the blocks in the second with Ahmed Saad kicking his first goal in the jumper.
Continued pressure acts from North Ballarat in between the arcs forced Coburg to play uncharacteristic football, as the Roosters piled on three goals
It took two Josh Iacobaccio assists to stem the flow as Younan converted a set shot and Fox finished a spectacular hangar.
Coburg continued to wrestle back momentum late in the second on the back of increased midfield pressure from Goodwin, Usyal and Fox.
While Sean Gregory was a rock in defense, ensuring Coburg went into the half trailing by just 8 points.
Mark Orr got the ball rolling in the third with a floater from the pocket, to bring the margin within a point.
After a period of dominant North Ballarat pressure the Lions were able to build brilliantly from defence, progressing the ball by hand, resulting in another Younan goal.
Back and forth play continued in the third with the Coburg going into the final break trailing by 2 points.
Lech Featherstone gave the Lions the lead for the first time in the match early in the final quarter, as the Coburg midfield turned it up a level.
North Ballarat continued to press, managing to get one back to take a 5 point lead midway through the final quarter, before Fox climbed again to mark and Goal as Coburg edged ahead.
The Coburg backline weathered attack after attack but North Ballarat managed to hold their nerve converting late in the last to take a 6 point lead.
Peter McEvoy laid a brilliant tackle to earn himself a free kick which he diligently slotted. However, it would not be as Ballarat transitioned the ball quicker and more efficiently to score and run out eventual 6 point winners.
Final score Coburg 11.9 75 def by. North Ballarat 12.9 81
Both our Senior and development sides will travel to North Port Oval next Saturday (16th April) to play Port Melbourne.
Goals: D.Younan, P.McEvoy 3, R.Fox, 2 A.Saad, L.Johns, M.Orr
Best: Younan, McEvoy, Fox, Allan, Lehmann, Hunt
