Port celebrate Pleming's 200th with hard fought win over Bombers.

Port Melbourne has celebrated Sam Pleming's (above) 200th game with a tough win over Essendon at Windy Hill. An inaccurate Borough held off a determined Essendon to win 10.25.85 to 10.7.67 and set-up a mouth watering top-of-the-table clash with Box Hill next week. In overcast conditions Port Melbourne jumped out of the blocks kicking the first three goals before the Bombers could even get their hands on the footy. A fifty-metre penalty against milestone man, Sam Pleming, after a high hit on Leroy Jetta, gifted the Bombers a goal on the siren to see the Borough take a nine point lead into quarter-time.

Port began well again in the second term with goals to Adrian Bonaddio and Josh Scipione and the margin was back out to four goals. However the Bombers came alive in time-on with three goals in three minutes, two to Josh Mellington, to reduce Port's lead to just five points at half-time.The Bombers went into the sheds to the applause from fans who were suddenly thinking an upset was on the cards. After appearing to have the game in control, the Borough suddenly had a fight on their hands.

Momentum continued for the Bombers after the re-start with the first two goals of the quarter to Nick O'Brien and Jason Ashby. They had kicked the last five goals of the match and when running defender Shaun Edwards, now into attack, snapped truly from close range seventeen minutes in, the Dons were in front. Port answered with two goals in time-on to regain the lead before Kyle Hardingham marked and goaled in front of the Dick Reynolds Stand to reduce the margin to just three points at the final change.

Much of the final term was played in the Borough's forward half but they couldn't convert. Coach Gary Ayres bellowing from the boundary line to 'lock it in' as the Bombers defenders tried to find a way out of defence. It took until the twenty-two minute mark before the first goal of the quarter. Hardingham found himself unmarked in the goal-square and kicked the Bombers to within a goal. It was a tough final term that was crying out for some brilliance - enter Shane Valenti.

 As the clock ticked over the 25-minute-mark, Valenti found space at half-forward, space which had been a rarity in the quarter. He allowed for the breeze and booted it through from well out on the run. It was a classy goal. The Borough players converged on him, as they did on Sam Pleming when the siren sounded moments later.

Port amassed 35 scoring shots to the Bombers 17 including 2.11 in the last quarter and probably should never have allowed Essendon back into the game in the first half. Mitch Wooffindin and Bonaddio kicked two each for the Borough, while for the Bombers, Hardingham and Mellington also booted two.

Better players for the winners included former Scorpion Luke Tynan, Shannen Lange, Tom O’Sullivan and tough midfielder Toby Pinwell, while for Essendon O’Brien, Sean Gregory in defence, skipper Ben Duscher and runners Dell’Olio and Travis Colyer. Both sides face big games in round eight with the Borough away to fellow unbeaten side Box Hill while the Bombers are at home to cross-town rival the Northern Blues.