After keeping Shepparton United at arm’s length for the first three quarters, Notre had all hands on deck to hold on white-knuckled in the last to claim a 6.11 (47) to 6.4 (40) win.
The low scoring affair was neck and neck from the off.
United and Gold traded proverbial blows to have the score see-saw as time ticked by, but at each break it was the latter which held the advantage.
With 10 points to be made up in the final stanza, the Demons restricted Notre to four behinds — but eventually slumped to the closest of losses after only managing 1.1.
Blake Sofra fought hard in the losing battle with three majors for United, while Hamish McCully stood out in the Gold guernsey.
The win moves Notre Gold into second on the table, now within striking distance of Shepparton Swans.
However, making up the ground will be easier said than done.
The Swans displayed every hallmark of a premiership side during their eight-goal beating of Mooroopna Cats White.
A first-quarter stalemate was smashed by the Swans in the second as they raced to a 26-point lead at the main interval, which only grew to finally reach 15.8 (98 to 7.6 (48) at the siren.
Swan Keelan Phillips moved to 30 goals for the season thanks to six on the day, while Will and Oscar Emanuelli combined for all seven of Mooroopna’s majors.
Mooroopna White’s co-tenant Blue had much more luck in its fixture against Echuca Bombers.
An astonishing bag of nine from Benjamin Andrews headlined the monster 19.11 (125) to 7.8 (50) result, while Jackson Williams’ half-dozen also helped lift Blue to the win and into fourth.
Lastly, it was a tough day at Tatura Park as the Bulldogs were dished out a 31-goal loss by Echuca Murray Bombers.
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