REDAN has clawed a hard fought victory to advance to the Ballarat Football League preliminary final next week.
The western Lions trailed at three quarter time by 11 points against North Ballarat City, but found something left in the tank to win 13.13 (91) to 12.11 (83) at Eastern Oval on Sunday.
The lead see-sawed throughout the match. Even at the end, North Ballarat City was still pressing when denied by the final siren.
Jarrod Edwards was Redan's busiest player but it was Ryan Waight, who has struggled with injury for much of the season, who turned on a match-winning performance.
Redan now advances into a showdown with East Point next Saturday at Eastern Oval.
Sunbury, meanwhile, will enter the Ballarat Football League grand final the reddest of red hot favourites after steamrolling East Point in the BFL second semi final at Darley Park on Saturday.
After an even first quarter, where the two teams were 3.5 (23) apiece, the eastern Lions dominated the Kangaroos with 16 goals to five for the remainder of the match.
The final margin was 70 points, Sunbury winning 19.16 (130) to East Point's 8.12 (60).
Sunbury outmatched East Point in almost every position on the ground. Simon Clarke kicked six goals at one end, while Allan O'Connor had the better of Dan Jordan at the other, the Kangaroos coach finishing with just two goals.
But best on ground honours could perhaps go to Ross Sleight, who finished with five goals as a forward and provided plenty of run in the midfield as well.
The catalyst for East Point's woes was an ankle injury to Jason Delaney around quarter time. Deprived of their best contested ball player, the Kangaroos were quickly overwhelmed by Sunbury's onball division led by Jay Cheep and Jamie Lobb.
The Lions even had the luxury of resting ruckman Pat Cariss forward for much of the match. In his absence, Adam Short did a fine job.
While Sunbury will go straight into the grand final in a fortnight, East Point will get another chance against Redan.
