From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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PORT Melbourne has achieved some spectacular victories under the coaching of Gary Ayres.
But as he took in scenes of jubilation in the changerooms Ayres was moved to bracket Saturday's triumph over the Casey Scorpions as "right up there".
There were a number of reasons why he did so.
The Borough were missing top-liners Dean Galea, Shane Valenti, Toby Pinwill, Nathan Batsanis, Hugh Sandilands, Myles Pitt and Danny Hughes.
They were up against an unbeaten and hardened team.
And at three-quarter-time they trailed by 24 points and had kicked only seven goals.
Ayres' talks at the huddle drag dozens of spectators on to the ground, and with his side in a bind he called on every player to "make a difference" and pull Port through.
Stunningly, brilliantly, the Borough kicked four unanswered goals in the first six minutes of the final quarter to grab the lead and set the new electronic scoreboard blinking to light. The first came from a long set shot from rookie Charlie Woodley. Sam O'Sullivan, Josh Scipione and Ryan Gale followed up.
Casey hit back with the next three goals to ease 17 points in front.
But Port got the next four again, two from Scipione, who was so hot the local fire brigade had engines idling.
Veteran Sam Pleming then nailed a crucial set shot to make it nine points in Port's favour.
The Scorpions replied through Chris Dawes after Port muffed a kick-in, but the home team held on by three points in a tension-filled finish.
In doing so it extended its run of victories at North Port Oval to 24. It hasn't been bested at its home deck since a finals against Box Hill Hawks in 2010.
"We never think we're beaten here," Ayres said. "That that was a special effort in the last quarter to get over the top of a very good side. It's right up there with the best of them."
Ayres noted that young players including forward O'Sullivan (three goals), Scipione (four), Woodley and Mitch Wooffindin (30 possessions) had put down an influence on the match.
But his seasoned hands served him well again: Chris Cain (31 disposals), skipper John Baird and Pleming (23).
Ayres said Port's ability to win the ball out of the centre and drive it to an open forward line (he had all his forwards starting out of the goal square) in the last quarter turned the match.
The Borough go into the weekend off for the state game with three wins, two losses and a draw. But, hang on, help is on its way: all the injured players except Pitt will be ready to resume.
Port Melbourne 2.3 3.4 7.5 15.11 (101) d Casey Scorpions 1.5 5.9 10.11 14.14 (98)
Port Melbourne goals: Scipione 4 O'Sullivan 3 O'Farrell 2 Bonaddio 2 Gale Cain Pleming Woodley. Best: O'Sullivan Wooffindin Baird Skipper Pleming Scipione
Casey Scorpions goals: Fitzpatrick 3 Dawes 3 Page 3 Rodan 2 Davey Toumpas Couch. Best: Tynan Toumpas Fitzpatrick Sellar Gent Rodan.
