By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham United went down 5-2 to Mount Eliza on Saturday.
The scoreline belies the mostly tight encounter, before a fitter Mount Eliza was able to outrun a Pakenham side which had multiple men playing two games on the same day.
Absences have cruelled Pakenham in recent weeks after it was able to gain some momentum with consecutive wins last month.
Pakenham trailed 2-1 at the break and got it back to 2-2 after 61 minutes, before conceding three goals in the last 15 minutes.
Hampton Park, meanwhile, was able to hold off Aspendale with a 3-2 win.
The visitors were within striking distance in the last 15 minutes but the Sparrows were able to clinch the three points.
Bunyip and Casey played out a 3-3 draw, the Panthers up 2-0 and 3-1 but Bunyip was able to reel it in with goals at the 76 and 87-minute mark.
Results: Barton 0 v Seaford United 9, Mount Martha 3 v Rosebud 1, Bunyip 3 v Casey 3, Hampton Park 3 v Aspendale 2, Mount Eliza 5 v Pakenham United 2.
Ladder: Hampton Park 44, Mentone 30, Seaford 28, Aspendale 28, Bunyip 26, Rosebud 25, Casey 23, Mount Martha 22, Mount Eliza 13, Pakenham 9, Barton 1.
Fixture: Aspendale v Barton, Bunyip District v Hampton Park United Sparrows, Mentone v Mount Eliza, Pakenham v Mount Martha, Seaford v Rosebud.
