IT had ‘close game’ written all over it, and that’s how it panned out.
Werribee Centrals were on the wrong end of a four-point margin in a loss to Anakie in the Geelong and District Football League Smiths Holden Cup at Anakie Reserve on Saturday.
The Centurions, third on the ladder entering the weekend, retained their position but now have Geelong West and Anakie snapping at their heels after the loss.
They started the game the better, racing to a three-goal lead, with Tyren Montebruno looking damaging with two goals in his first game back from injury.
Montebruno’s day was short- lived, the forward leaving the field with another injury.
This would prove the turning point in the game as Centurions’ momentum seeped away.
From a 16-point lead at quarter time, the Centurions would not kick a major for two quarters and trailed by 10 points at three-quarter time.
They fell into old habits in the middle part of the game – not manning up, failing to hit up targets and taking the wrong options.
This was a golden opportunity for the Centurions to put some distance between themselves at third and the teams below on the ladder, but they let themselves down.
Michael Cassidy worked hard all day but didn’t have too many helpers. Luke Salmond, Michael Knight and Tobi Bray flashed in and out of the game.
Two goals to youngster Tom Colliver gave the out-of-sorts Centurions an unlikely lead, but Anakie was offered too much latitude in the dying stages and found a deserved winning goal.
