WIMMERA football fans were treated to an intense and enthralling weekend of football with a raft of nail-biting matches.
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Three Wimmera Football League matches were decided by single-figure margins, with Minyip-Murtoa sealing top spot on the ladder with a come-from-behind win at home against Horsham Demons.
The nine-point win almost guarantees the Burras the minor premiership for the second consecutive year, and likely pushes the Demons into a qualifying final against Warrack Eagles.
The Eagles locked themselves into third spot with a 35-point win against Stawell in what some had tipped would be one of the closer matches of the round.
The Warriors were fighting to keep in touch with third spot on the ladder.
Horsham Saints turned a half-time deficit around to run over the top of Ararat in the second half for a five-point victory, while Dimboola broke its 2017 drought with a win against the Tigers.
It marked the second time in two years the Roos have travelled to Nhill and knocked off the higher-placed home side late in the season.
Horsham District Football Netball League competition featured a draw between finals contenders Jeparit-Rainbow and Edenhope-Apsley to shake up the top six.
The Storm looked likely to claim third spot on the ladder a few weeks ago, but the draw leaves them sitting in fourth – ahead of Laharum only on percentage – and in danger of missing a double chance come finals.
Three other games had margins of two goals or less, with Rupanyup storming to an upset win against Kalkee, Laharum sealing a 12-point win against Natimuk United, and Harrow-Balmoral falling agonisingly short of knocking off the unbeaten Southern Mallee Giants.
The latter’s game ended with a kick from Giant Brock Orval bouncing through the goals in the dying seconds to give Southern Mallee a four-point win.
The two sides are likely to meet again in a first semi-final on September 2.
The Giants are two games clear at the top of the table, while second-placed Southern Roos are another two games clear of the Swifts, who posted a 152-point win against Pimpinio on Saturday.
Meanwhile, despite their loss the Rams can still influence the top six.
They sit one win behind sixth-placed Edenhope-Apsley, and are still a possibility to make finals with games to come against the Saints and Noradjuha-Quantong.