A hard fought 12-point win to Brunswick NOBSPC over Prahran Assumption at Toorak Park has set up a massive game against old foes Old Paradians on Saturday at Gillon Oval in the battle to avoid relegation.

This is the beauty of Amateurs – two teams with disappointing seasons can play in a match of real consequence to their clubs; a match that will test them as footballers as much as a final.

Not expectedly, our fourth win of the season did not come easily as we faced off against a desperate Two Blues who needed four points to stay in the race to avoid relegation themselves.

We enjoyed a fast start and looked much the better side in a first quarter, before conceding two easy goals against the run of play. That old marvel Scott Sleep then calmly slotted a major from 50 to ensure we led at the first break.

In the second term we looked like putting the game away when we extended our lead to 20 points early on and proceeded to dominate play, but we failed to capitalise and again let the Two Blues into the game, before a settling goal to fan-favourite Todd Patterson.

The third quarter was tough to watch as, first, we were extremely wasteful in front of goal and, then, Prahran got a real run-on as they slammed through a number of late goals to take the momentum into the final change.

Coach Luke Mahoney then called on the players to dig deep and they responded. There may have been a touch of luck to each of our three goals in the last term – two via fortuitous bounces of the ball and the other a dubious free kick – but no-one could dispute that the better team won on the day. The effort of the backline in keeping Prahran goalless was proof enough of that.

Our best players on the day were also our most improved this year, being defender Cameron Fox and Danny King, who tagged the home team’s best player out of the game.

Adam Oakley showed his class when the game was on the line, while Jeremy Nettlefold, Tom Hartney, Pat Kelly and Lachlan Ezard won plenty of the ball in the midfield.

Up forward, Gerrard Bence kicked all three of our goals in the final quarter to end the day with four, while Sleep and Patterson presented as targets all day.

Please treat this as a clarion call to all supporters to get down to Gillon Oval on Saturday to cheer on the boys as they take on the old enemy in a huge game for the Club!