A CRITICAL Goulburn Valley League match for Seymour saw the Lions take care of business against Shepparton United away from home, allowing them to move into the top three of the senior football ladder.
The Lions did so with a crucial last-quarter burst, overturning a two-goal deficit to ensure a gritty, much-needed win outside of its comfortable confines of Kings Park.
Key target Riley Mason was the man for the job to get the Lions going, kicking the opening goal of a contest where goals were clearly at a premium.
After a struggle which saw United score six consecutive behinds, the Lions stole a march with a second goal through Ricky Schraven, before a late United goal meant the scores were level at 12-apiece at the opening change.
The Lions got away to a good start in the second term, with goals through Dylan Cook and Jaron Murphy allowed them to build a 13-point lead.
Goals were incredibly hard to come by, as Shepparton United sat on 2.10, whereas Seymour were kicking better in front of goal, but still a little inaccurate, with 4.5 as the Lions led 29-22 at the main break.
The third quarter belonged to Shepparton United, and a few nerves started to creep in for the Lions as United piled on three quick goals to not only take the lead but lead by as much as 14 points midway through the term.
But the Lions hit back, and goals through Mason, Tom Jeffrey and Tom Stapleton meant the Lions were in front by the final change, leading 48-43.
The Lions had the goals they needed in the final term, whereas Shepparton United could not buy a goal when it mattered – Mason and Thomas Martin sealing the game for Seymour, and giving the Lions a 9.7 (61) to 5.16 (46) victory.
Cook, Stapleton, Jack Murphy, Jeffrey and Huw Jones all performed well for the Lions in a time of great need.
The result means the Lions continue to keep tabs on runaway leaders Shepparton and Echuca, sitting two games behind in third.
The reserves were no match for Shepparton United, losing by 25 points and only managing four goals for the afternoon, while the under-18s went down in a thriller, losing by seven points.
On the netball court, Seymour took a seven-goal win over Shepparton United in A-grade, allowing it to stay just percentage off the fourth-placed Shepparton, albeit three games behind the runaway top three.
There were also wins for the Lions in B-grade and the 17-and-under grades, while B-reserve and the 15-and-under team had their colours lowered.