IT was a day of drama in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday, with a string of nail-biting matches that included a stunning draw between Melton and Darley.
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Redan knocked off Ballarat by just one goal in a tight tussle, Sunbury stormed home to pinch a three-point victory over Bacchus Marsh and Darley missed two late chances to steal a win, finishing level with Melton.
The other two games were less dramatic, with Lake Wendouree beating Melton South by 47 points and North Ballarat City smashing Sebastopol to the tune of 225 points.
In a fierce encounter at Alfredton Oval, it was Redan that kicked the only goal of the last quarter to sneak home by six points over Ballarat.
The Swans had peppered the goals in the last term, only to kick six behinds.
With the ball rarely in their forward 50 metres, the Lions were more efficient, with Callum Currie topping off a best-on-ground display, snapping the crucial match-winning goal.
It also seemed as though Leigh Ryall had put the result beyond doubt when he marked on the tip of the goalsquare 23-minute mark, only to spray the shot out of bounds on the full.
Ballarat rebounded and had the ball in their forward line for the remaining minutes, but it was the maroon and gold defence that held firm.
MEANWHILE, Jack Landt kicked three last-quarter goals for Sunbury as his side came from 17 points down at three-quarter time to defeat Bacchus Marsh 16.15 (111) to 17.6 (108).
The Cobras led by as much as 34 points at half time, but was unable to hold onto the buffer.
And at MacPherson Park, the margin was never greater than 12 points for either side in a genuine arm wrestle, with Darley having five more scoring shots in the 11.8 (74) to 10.14 (74) scoreline.