Avoca travelled to Maldon with a number of key players missing through injury but still put in an admirable effort against the Bombers in the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League on Saturday.

This was the clash of the two top teams and Maldon played run and carry football to break the lines and were able to defeat the previously unbeaten Bulldogs by 16 points.

Ben Harrison was selected forward for Avoca to replace Chris Lakey who was unavailable and he kicked the opening goal after taking a strong contested mark and quickly running forward to goal on the run.

Avoca went forward many times but Maldon’s defence was playing well and the Bulldogs could not finish off the good work of their midfield group led by Julian Field who played very well all day.

Maldon did not enter its scoring zone until midway through the term but scored every time they went forward in this first quarter.