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The Seagulls prevailed 15.15 (105) to 14.18 (102) to leave the Bombers in 11th position on the ladder.

It's the second time this season the Bombers have lost a game by under 10 points after they were also beaten by reigning premier Sandringham by seven points in round three.

'‘It's very frustrating losing these close games - even last year we couldn't win the close ones, so it's something we need to work on," Bombers' captain Simon Rosa said.

‘‘We played better today as a team, which is something we've been lacking in other weeks, but if we can sneak home in a close game we can probably get our season started." Last year, the Bombers lost four games by under 10 points.

The Bombers started the game well, leading Williamstown by 18 points at the first change, before the Seagulls cut the deficit to 12 points at half-time.

Williamstown then added 8.6 to Bendigo's inaccurate 5.9 in the second half to ensure its fifth win in six encounters with the Bombers.

It was the conversion in front of goal that was the difference.

‘‘Our inaccurate kicking let us down, and Williamstown capitalised more on its chances," Rosa said.

‘‘We had more scoring shots than them, but they were able to kick straighter and get away with the win." After being heavily criticised for his performance for Essendon against Collingwood on Anzac Day, Kepler Bradley was named the Bombers' best player yesterday, and he also kicked three goals.

‘‘Kepler's work-rate was very good and his marking was fantastic," Rosa said.

‘‘He was a good key target for us." For the second week in a row Bachar Houli was dominant in the midfield, while Rosa generated plenty of run out of defence.

Sam Lonergan and the consistent Ben Jolley also figured in the best players. The season is now a quarter of the way through, but despite their poor start, the Bombers only find themselves one win outside the top eight.

‘‘We're behind the eight-ball a bit - we would liked to have been at least 3-2, but if we want to play finals, we need to win those close games," Rosa said.

‘‘We can't afford to leave our run too late, or else it's going to make it too tough to play finals." Meanwhile, the Bombers' reserves were also beaten by the Seagulls.

Williamstown won 25.18 (168) to 11.16 (82).

Like the seniors, the Bombers reserves' conversion at goal was poor, registering just three goals from 16 scoring shots in the first half.

Michael Leech and Grant Weeks, who is the side's leading goalkicker with 12, each kicked three goals for the Bombers, who are sitting in eighth position on the ladder with a 1-3 record.

Among the better players for the Bombers were Ben Duscher, Leech and Jon Coghlan, who has been in fine form in the past fortnight.