BALLARAT 13.10 (88)
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BENDIGO 8.17 (65)
BALLARAT piled on four goals in the last eight minutes of the game to run a out 23-point winner over Bendigo on Saturday.
In a crucial AFL Victoria Country Championships match, it was Ballarat that took advantage of its opportunities to win 13.10 (88) to 8.17 (65).
Bendigo had every opportunity to win the match but missed crucial chances in the dying stages.
Two Bendigo shots hit the goal post in the 14th and 18th minute a miracle banana from Brodie Filo and an easy dribbling attempt from former Hawthorn premiership player Rick Ladson. A Ladson goal would have put Bendigo up by seven points with about 10 minutes left.
However, Ballarat quickly rebounded and when Redan's Grant Bell converted from a tight angle on the run, East Point coach Dan Jordan snapped from next to the point post and North City's Derick Micallef slotted his fourth for the day, the match slipped away from Bendigo in five quick minutes.
Sunbury's Xavier Linton put another major through for the home side in the dying minutes, sending Ballarat into party mode.
Ballarat coach Ben Jordan could not praise his players enough after the game. Young East Point gun Hayden Walters won the umpire's medal for best on ground for Ballarat, dominant throughout the midfield while also raking in 12 marks.
Sunbury's Brett Chambers, Melton South's Leigh Burke and Ryan Luke from North City were stoic down back, especially early on when Ballarat was under fire.
Captain Jason McNamara and Redan's Brendan Peace ran riot through the midfield, aided by the always-dominant Pat Cariss from Sunbury in the ruck.
And down forward Micallef helped himself to four goals, three of which came in a row when Ballarat was 18 points down.
"I just thought they were fantastic today," Jordan said of his team.
"They played like a team, which is exactly what we wanted. They certainly got the reward they deserved."
There were dangers signs early in the match, with Bendigo dominating the ball in the first quarter but failing to capitalise on the scoreboard.
The visitors kicked just two goals from nine scoring shots at the first break, as well as an out of bounds attempt after the siren.
"We had a lot of players that hadn't played at the level before and maybe that showed in the first quarter," Jordan said.
"They (Bendigo) could have been six goals up and to be honest, that would've flattened a lot of our guys."
The second and third terms were genuine arm wrestles, with both sides taking advantage of a slight breeze towards the Peel Street end.
Even at three-quarter time when Bendigo led by a goal, there was a sense Ballarat would run over the top.
Bendigo threatened to steal the match, but failed to convert.
"Their execution and skills was were so much better than ours," Bendigo coach Jeff Brennan said.
"We had three opportunities when we were in front.
"They were just better with the ball.
"Even when we had no pressure on us we chose poor options and didn't kick it well."
Ballarat is now ranked fourth in the AFL Victoria standings, while Bendigo slips to seventh.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au