North Ballarat proves its credentials with five-goal win against Sebastopol

With last weekend's shock loss a distant memory, the young Roosters wrestled the ascendancy early and never faltered, only losing the lead once in the 12.15 (87) to 7.11 (53) win.

Coach Brendan McCartney said the win was a credit to the development of the group.

"We don't spend a lot of time during the week thinking there are two or three tactics that will win us a game of footy," he told The Courier.

"We're trying to learn how to work as a group and get to know each other.

"We're getting to a point where when the players are out there, and when they're playing, they know it's our style of footy. Just as quickly, if they move away from it, they know what that looks like.

"We're still a work in progress, having as much fun as we can doing it and enjoying the journey."

North Ballarat drew first blood through Josh Chatfield (two goals) before the game fell into a rhythm.

Sebastopol dominated possession, winning the first quarter mark tally 26 to 11, but was pushed into defensive areas of the ground by the hosts.

The Burra struggled to break through the Roosters' defence, the sustained pressure ultimately causing defensive lapses that saw North Ballarat jump out to a three-goal lead at the first break.

Sebastopol immediately responded after the re-start, kicking a goal within the first minutes.

Two Michael Powell majors would follow to bring the game level.

The Burra would only enjoy a lead for five minutes before two late Roosters goals sent them into the sheds in front, 5.5 (35) to 3.6 (24).

"We had a fair bit of ascendancy without ever getting a break, and that's a credit to Sebastopol," McCartney said.

"They've got a really clear way of playing, and they're really good at keeping the ball off you. They've got some fantastic senior country footballers.

"We got a lot right during the game, but we couldn't quite get away due to how well they were playing."

As intensity rose in the third term, the game became scrappier and congested.

Neither side truly managed to get out of the middle of the ground and launch into attack.

The lone goal in the third quarter went the hosts' way after Sam Glover found the ball roll to him in space on the edge of the 50-metre arc.

The debutant composed himself and eased it over the last man to celebrate his first senior goal for the Roosters.

It was always going to be tough coming back for the Burra, having managed just two behinds in the third term and three unanswered Roosters goals to start the final quarter almost ended the salvage job completely.

A pair of Burra goals in quick succession kept the most optimistic of supporters interested, though the hope soon died when the hosts countered with another sustained charge forward.

Glover's second, just before the final siren, was the perfect end to a rampant Roosters' showing, much to their coach's delight.

"It was just a bit of composure," McCartney said.

"When you're tired, and you get all wound up, you can just slam the ball forward.

"What you should do is actually slow your mind down and open your vision up. We found some easy teammates in space, which was good."

North Ballarat takes momentum into a round five clash down the highway against Sunbury.

Sebastopol, meanwhile, is away against Lake Wendouree.

In round four's other games, Bacchus Marsh upset East Point 13.9 (87) to 8.8 (56) and Melton South beat Sunbury, 15.7 (97) to 10.14 (74).

The two night games - Darley vs Melton, and Ballarat vs Lake Wendouree - were still ongoing.