Blistering finish keeps the Seagulls dreaming

NORTH Shore will not be looking more than a week ahead despite inching closer to the GFL’s top five.

The Seagulls pulled off a come-from-behind win over Newtown & Chilwell in windy conditions at Windsor Park on Saturday, moving to within eight points of fifth-placed Leopold with four games left.

North Shore plays South Barwon and St Albans — teams it has beaten — over the next two weeks, while Leopold has league leader St Joseph’s and third-placed Bell Park.

If results go to form, it could leave the Lions and Seagulls level on points with two matches remaining.

The two clash in the final home-and-away round, in what looms as a tantalising finish to the season.

Coach Jason Davenport said the Seagulls were buoyed by the five-point win, but he was keen to stress they were not looking at the bigger picture yet.

“There is a lot to get through. There are a lot of uncontrollables,” Davenport said.

“With four weeks to go and you’re behind, there are so many uncontrollables that comes into play when it comes to the ‘F’ word (finals).

“It’s important we look to build momentum in regards to consistency in performance. What happens from there . . . a lot of it is out of our control.”

“St Albans and South Barwon both had good wins and if you want to look further ahead we have St Joseph’s and Leopold. They’re quality sides.

“So it’s very much the oneweek-at-a-time approach.”

In windy conditions, North Shore was 32 points down at three-quarter time.

It still was 22 points adrift with six minutes remaining.

However, the Seagulls dug deep and Bailey Ettridge’s goal with 90 seconds remaining was enough to secure a thrilling win.

“We felt we were definitely in the game at three-quarter time. As a coaching staff, we would have liked to have been a goal closer, but that breeze had been anywhere between that four to six-goal range (all day),” Davenport said.

“We wanted to force the ball going towards goal. When it came down to it, the effort and energy we brought in the last six or seven minutes helped us get a great result for us as a footy club.

“It was really nice to come away with the points.”

Ettridge bagged four goals for the game, putting in his best performance in North Shore colours.

“Bailey is a young player who you quickly forget his actual age. His approach and preparation is as good as I’ve seen and he is a mature, hardworking young man,” Davenport said.

Jonathon Arcoraci and Julian Dobosz also stood out for the Seagulls.

Alexander Cincotta was Newtown & Chilwell’s best, booting three goals. David Fanning and Matt McMahon were also solid contributors for the Eagles.