COACH Gerard FitzGerald says a fighting win over VFL premiership favourite Williamstown has the potential to set up North Ballarat's season.The Roosters scrambled their way to a four-point win over Williamstown - 15.11 (101) to 14.13 (97) - in Ballarat on Saturday. North Ballarat was staring down the barrel for a large part of the day after letting Williamstown open up a 27-point lead in the first quarter.But not even the presence of Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson, on his way back from injury, was enough to help the Seagulls stay in front in a desperate finish."This is a significant moment," FitzGerald told his players post-match."When we looked like we couldn't win it, you didn't lose your belief."This belief got us home," he said."We beat the best team in the competition the hard way."These wins can set up a season," FitzGerald said.Williamstown went into the pivotal game on top of the ladder and with an opportunity to put the acid on the Selkirk Roosters with a second consecutive loss.For a long time this looked on the cards, with North Ballarat being its own worst enemy with poor kicking for goal.In an eery coincidence, just as it did in a loss to Geelong a week earlier North Ballarat began with 1.8 before finally finding its range.It took another three quarters to recitify the situation.Williamstown led by 15 points early in the last quarter, but three goals in 11 minutes gave the Roosters an unlikely lead.When youngster Tom McDonald snapped another goal, North Ballarat had an advantage of 10 points and all the momentum.Step up Western Bulldogs rookie and former North Ballarat Rebel Andrew Hooper, who last year played three games for the Roosters.Hooper kicked two goals in two minutes to give himself four for the day in a starring role on his former home ground.Another major for the Seagulls, giving them breathing space of eight points, looked like being enough to sink North Ballarat.Again the Roosters responded and with goals by Orren Stephenson and Corey Jones the Roosters were home.FitzGerald said the win was crucial, but there was an equally important game on the agenda next - a trip to Bendigo.