Williamstown has continued their recent dominance over Werribee by registering a two point defeat over their local rivals - making it nine consecutive wins against the Tigers. 

It was yet another incredibly tight encounter with the lead changing hands four times in the last quarter.

Watch Zephaniah Skinner's match winning goal on the media player above.

Incredibly, in a repeat of the Round Six clash, when the siren sounded it was Williamstown up by a point.

A rushed behind after the siren saw a final two point margin.

The home side were able to honour captain Ben Jolley who was playing his 100th game for the Club, fittingly, it was the captain who led the way with a best on ground performance.

Williamstown were looking to register back to the back wins for the first time since Round 6 but it was the visiting side that came out of the blocks the better and dominated the early stages of the first quarter.

The Seagulls struggled to get their hands on the football as the Tigers hammered their forward 50 but failed to capitalise, kicking 1.5 before the home side had even registered a score.

Williamstown were able to respond late in the quarter through the marking prowess of Liam Jones and the hard running work from Ed Carr and Ben Jolley in the middle of the ground.

The Seagulls regained momentum to end the quarter, kicking four goals straight to trail Werribee’s 4.5 at quarter time.

The second term was a real arm wrestle with neither team able to gain control of the play and both teams playing tight, tough, contested football.

Defensively Williamstown was strong, with Cameron Lockwood, Stephen McCallum and Jason Johannisen nullifying Werribee’s dangerous small forwards.

Costly turnovers gifted Werribee their two goals for the quarter but the Seagulls were able to restrict the margin to just 10 points at the main break.

It was goal for goal early in the third quarter as Werribee extended their margin out to 15 points twice, but Williamstown battled hard to reduce the margin to three points.

But once again the tide changed as two quick replies from Werribee stretched the margin back out to 15 points.

In need of a goal before the final change, Williamstown turned to their inspirational captain Ben Jolley, who snapped a great goal to bring the margin back to nine points at the final change with a big final quarter ahead of both teams.

An early goal to Werribee after the final change had the Seagulls on the back foot.

Williamstown weren’t going to give in that easily though, as they started to win the crucial contests and looked to have the legs over the tiring Tigers.

Matthew Panos, who was moved forward in the third quarter, kicked 2 quick goals and another goal to James Wall saw the Seagulls hit the front for the first time in the day.

With 14 minutes gone on the clock there was still plenty of football left, which the Seagulls learnt the hard way as two goals to Ben McKinley had Werribee back out to a 10 point lead as the game went into time on.

Some good work from Alex Greenwood saw him take on two opponents and hit Liam Jones lace out which resulted in Jones’ 3rd goal, bringing the margin back to just four points.

The Seagulls only needed the one opportunity, and it came when Zeph Skinner slammed it on his boot from 30 metres out.

Much to the delight of the big home crowd the ball floated through and once again the Gulls were in front at the 26 minute mark.

Tensions were understandably high in the last six minutes with both sides throwing everything at the contest.

Williamstown were able to apply just enough pressure to Werribee captain Robbie Castello as his shot on the run slammed into the post reducing the margin to just a point.

That was the last scare for the Seagulls as the ball remained in their forward 50 for the last two minutes, with the siren sounding much to the sheer delight of all players and supporters who had just witnessed another thrilling Western Derby.

Williamstown 4.0 5.3 9.6 14.7 (91)
Werribee Tigers 4.5 6.7 10.9 13.11 (89)

GOALS:
Williamstown: Jones 3 Conway 2 Carr 2 Roughead Skinner Campbell Panos Jolley Hooper Wall

BEST:
Williamstown: Jolley Johannisen Wall Goodes Jones Carr

Next Week:

Williamstown faces another rival next week with the home game against Port
Melbourne at Burbank Oval on Saturday the 28th of July.