Gibson has another day as Panthers even their ledger

KILCUNDA BASS welcomed Garfield down the highway to Bass Recreation Reserve, which despite rain through the morning was looking beautiful and was not slippery, there was a wind advantage to start out though. 

The Panthers welcomed back the services of guns Nathan Foote and Ben Eddy, but the Stars began the game kicking to the wind-favoured Wonthaggi end of the ground and used it well. 

Garfield drew first blood with the game’s first two majors and created plenty of other opportunities as well, but the hosts were good enough to match them through spearhead Taylor Gibson who slotted his first of the afternoon against the wind. 

The Stars then responded with another before the quarter time siren to take a 16-point lead into the first break. 

With Gibson imposing himself on the game the home side booted five goals to none in the term as their midfield got right on top on the back of their returning duo Foote and Eddy and star ruckman Dale Gawley. 

After a poor start, Killy Bass took a 14-point lead into the main break. 

As the teams emerged from their respective changerooms for the second half, the wind advantage had died off and it was game on. 

This helped the Panthers kick three goals to the Melbourne end in the third to Garfield’s two, seeing the home side’s lead sit at 23-points. 

The Panthers were desperate to start the final quarter well and they did exactly that, slotting the first two goals of the term. 

They missed some chances but it didn’t matter in the end, opening up a 40-point buffer which proved to be enough to withstand an impressive late game Stars charge that saw them kick the final two of the game. 

Kilcunda Bass closed out the 27-point win behind a seven goal outing from Gibson, which was matched gallantly by Lang who booted four of his own for Garfield.