Allansford has ended a run of five finals losses over the last four years to keep its 2015 season alive.

The Cats led from start to finish to defeat Old Collegians 16.14 (110) to 10.7. (67) in the first semi-final at Merrivale on Sunday.

Allansford will now play Merrivale in the preliminary final, the third encounter in four weeks between these two teams. The Cats will be hoping for third time lucky having gone down to the Tigers in the last round of the home-and-away season and the qualifying final.

To topple the reigning premiers the Cats will be looking for a repeat performance from key forwards Brenton Webster and Justin Nowell who starred in the win over the Warriors.

Nowell kicked five goals and Webster four, both bobbing up at crucial times to keep the game out of the reach of Old Collegians. Jeremy Parkinson played his first game for the season and while he kicked just one goal, he showed enough to suggest he will be a valuable attacking weapon for the Cats. 

While the forwards came to play, the Cats defence was also impressive with Brett Membrey, Matt Dwyer, Sam Doukas and Brad Williams keeping a potentially dangerous Warriors attack in check. 

The midfield battle was won by Allansford with Josh Brown, Nick Johnstone and wingman Jason Wilson prominent throughout.

Allansford coach Josh Parkinson applauded the performance.

“We had a good start, we had a bit different set-up in the middle which worked well for us,” Parkinson said.

“We cracked in pretty hard and moved the ball well.

“That first use meant we could take the game on and get it quick to what is a potent forward line. It was good to use the ball so well on a big ground.”

Parkinson said the challenge facing his team this week will be to replicate its good start when it comes up against Merrivale.

“If you take out the first quarter the last two times we have played Merrivale and we are even with them, their good starts have been the margin,” Parkinson said.

“We want to keep winning, we want to go all the way so we will go into the game doing what we can to win it.”      

The Allansford win was achieved without key defender Darren Kelly and star onballer Xavier Mills who both failed to come up from ankle injuries. Parkinson is hopeful both could be up for selection this week.