The Vikings sit on top of the ladder and quickly showed why with goals at the 15 and 19 minute-mark to take a 2-0 lead into half-time.

The message from Redbacks’ coach Kevin Haintz at the main change was to stay positive and focus on where it could get the game on its terms.

Jonah Healey got Buninyong on the board in the 63^rd minute triggering a patch of dominance which saw the Redbacks storm to the front with three goals within 25 minutes.

Liam Dawson equalised for the Vikings in the 92^nd minute with a brilliant volley after a free kick to the lock scores at three apiece.

Redbacks’ captain Liam Haintz said once his side scored its opening goal, confidence grew and it knew it was back in the contest. Haintz was pleased to come away with a point against quality opposition given how tight the top five is.

“We were pretty happy,” Haintz said.

“We were going in expecting them to give us a bit to think about.

“We felt we weren’t out of it (at half-time).”

Forest Rangers closed the gap on Sebastopol with a 4-1 victory over Bacchus Marsh. While fellow top five clubs Warrnambool Rangers and Ballarat North United both had comfortable wins over Victoria Park and Creswick respectively.

Ballarat Red knocked off Daylesford 2-1.

Just three points seperate the top five teams, only four will play finals.

While in the women’s, ladder leader Sebastopol fought back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Ballarat North United 2-1.

Warrnambool Rangers cruised home 4-0 against Forest Rangers and Ballarat took the points over Bacchus Marsh.

Vic Park had the bye.