Final quarter flurry fails to Brighton the mood

SKOB's hopes of finishing in the top two at the end of the season have taken a serious knock following a tight loss to Old Brighton at the Beach Oval this afternoon. On a dirty old day it was a dirty old performance for three quarters from SKOB who didn't get going until it was almost too late in the tricky wet and windy conditions. The home side played the ground much better than SKOB for most of the day and after quarter time pulled away in the second and third quarters to build a lead that ultimately proved too big to reel in. It was the second loss to Old Brighton for SKOB for the year and and keeps OB's own finals hopes alive whilst dealing.a bitter blow for the Green Gold and Blue.

SKOB had to wait until deep into time on of the second quarter to register their first major, and even though they hit the sheds only 15 points in arrears, they were clearly being outplayed by a hungry Old Brighton side. 

To be fair, OB could have been much further in front and probably would have been were it not for some desperate defending by the likes of Phillips, Ross and Merrett, who found themselves constantly under siege as Brighton controlled most of the contests around the ground.In the second half things got even worse for SKOB as Old Brighton came out hard again and booted a couple of quick majors to extend their advantage. In these conditions it was quickly becoming an unassailable lead and OB were able to build on this with another couple before Billy Kanakis was finally able to register only the second goal for SKOB late in the third term.

The game seemed to have been put beyond doubt early in the last quarter when Brighton again kicked the first goal. Waite, Cameron and then Matheson gave some life to the SKOB effort by kicking back to back to back goals but it all seemed a a bit too late. But then things got really interesting as Sam Barnett and then Zach Ginies kicked a couple of quick ones with still 10 odd minutes left on the clock. 

Old Brighton looked like the HMS Cerberus at Black Rock struggling against the late tide of goals coming from SKOB. They resisted as the game ticked deep into time on, but when John Wood scored a late goal there was still a minute or so left with the difference now only four points. SKOB threw everything at old Brighton but they held on to win a game they more than deserved to. SKOB had left it all too late although their desperate fight and never say die attitude was heartening at the very least. Alas the precious four points were left on the table and SKOB were left to rue their tardy start. Credit to the home team for making things very difficult for SKOB to get going until the final term, but SKOB will leave Brighton ruing one that got away. 

SKOB 8.4.52 Old Brighton 7.14.56 Goal Kickers: M. Brown, B. Kanakis, J. Wood, C. Matheson, S. Barnett, Z. Ginies, J. Waite, S. Cameron Best Players: E. Phillips, C. Ross, L. Merrett, S. Cameron, C. Matheson, N. Wood

In other games, as mentioned, the reserves played out a draw, the thirds won comfortably out at St Bernard's, the U23 Thirds easily defeated Old Brighton, and it was a great day for the Under 19s with both the Div 3 and Div 4 sides cruising to big wins, to at least put the smiles on a few SKOB faces.

On Sunday our Masters had a day they'd rather forget, going down to Greenvale 5.3 to 1.3