Final five goals of the game help Albany Sharks to a gritty win over Denmark-Walpole in the race for finals

Albany Sharks coach Jamie Ramm says their gutsy victory over Denmark-Walpole on Saturday will give his players further belief as the club looks to qualify for its first ever league finals appearance in the next month. The Sharks strengthened their hopes of playing finals this year, kicking the last five goals of an entertaining contest with the Magpies at Centennial Stadium to win 14.17 (101) to 10.6 (66). The Magpies got within a point early in the last quarter after booting the first three goals but the Sharks responded like a top-four team would as classy trio Morgan Davies, Cameron Jones and Brett Peake helped arrest the momentum and their side booted the next five to emerge 35-point winners. “We’ve matched a lot of teams to half time but we fall away,” Ramm said. “That was the most pleasing thing, they actually believed. “That would be great for the footy club (playing finals) but at the end of the day if we can win a few more games, build towards next year, retain the players and pick more players up that’s probably more important to me. “But if they really want to do it, it’s there isn’t it.” After heavy defeats at the hands of the top two sides, a determined Magpies outfit started strongly with four goals in the first term to lead by 14 points. Scores were level at half time before three goals from key forward Matt Galantino swung the match in favour of the home side in the third term. The Magpies rallied and got within a point before the Sharks hit back as Jake Louthean and Peake kicked their second majors of the game, impressive youngster Mitchell Collier booted two goals and Max Baker also hit the scoreboard in the fourth. The win however was soured by a heavy collision between Davies and Magpie Mick Sullivan late in the final term as a concussed Davies was helped from the ground while Sullivan was also taken from the field. Galantino, in his third game of the season, booted five majors in a terrific display as the Sharks prevailed. Jones won the match ball presented by the umpires for his strong midfield game, winning a host of clearances and possessions while Robbie Lee and Davies were also prolific, defender Kieran Zilm was rock solid and Peake bobbed up in vital moments. The Magpies were best served by defenders Ash Smith and Kadan King-Davies, veteran Ryan Gaerth won plenty of the ball and Tyrone Kennedy provided his side with a good target in attack and finished with three goals. Coen Marwick was forced to play deep in attack after getting a heavy cork in the opening half and his older brother Zane Marwick played his best game since joining the Magpies. Magpies coach Alan Smallwood said his side again had costly lapses that allowed the Sharks back into the game. “We did start well but we didn’t really capitalise from our first quarter dominance,” he said. “We didn’t sustain it and still made some basic errors which let them back in. “In the last quarter we talked about rolling the dice and doing everything with positivity and see where it comes out and yeah we got within a point and then their very experienced guys, they rolled Peaky and Davies behind the ball and in the end that steadied it by doing that.”