BEACONSFIELD seniors failed to hold a fighting Doveton side and went down by 10 points in the final minutes of the game on a heavy Perc Allison ground on Saturday.
A large crowd was on hand for the battle of the two top ladder sides.
Doveton grabbed the early initiative with two quick goals.
The Eagles replied and by the end of the first quarter seven points separated the teams.
Keeping up the pressure, the Doves posted another three majors to one in the second term to have a handy lead at the main break.
The third quarter presented the crowd with some of the best football of the game. Both sides showed the run and class that saw them finish as top two.
While Doveton was deadly accurate in front of goal, Beaconsfield let itself down with four goals from ten scoring shots.
More than four goals down at the final change, the Eagles threw everything at their opponents and drew level with a few minutes to go.
The Doves dug deep and found enough to take a tenpoint lead to the final siren.
Scores: Beaconsfield 11.12.78 lost to Doveton 13.10.88.
Goals: Luke McConnell 3, David Williams 3, Tory Dickson 2, Ben Airdrie, Tim Musgrove, Daniel Mislicki 1.
Best: Chris Kelf, Tim Musgrove, Luke McConnell, David Williams, Kris Fletcher.
RESERVES
Struggling for numbers Beaconsfield Reserves was up against it from the first bounce, unable to post a major in the first two quarters.
After half time it showed more spirit and matched it with Doveton, but the game was well out of reach.
Scores: Beaconsfield 3.6.24 lost to Doveton 11.13.79.
Goals: Ricky Geritz, Warren Sheean, Jarrod Kemperman 1.
Best: Ricky Geritz, Craig Thwaites, Heath Airdrie, Warren Sheean, Mitch Goullet.
UNDER 18
The young Eagles had hopes of taking the game right up to the Doves, but the disciplined Doveton team had other ideas.
Still a chance at halftime, Beaconsfield fell away in the second half only scoring three points.
Scores: Beaconsfield 3.6.24 lost to Doveton 10.8.68.
Goals: Daniel Battaglin, Daniel Clarke, Ji Veltmeyer 1.
Best: Damien Szwaja, Nick Smith, James Brown, Daniel Pavlovic, Brendan Jarman.
