Thomastown and Lalor both desperately needed a win when they met in division 2 of the Northern Football League on Saturday.
They went into the match equal on points and in the bottom two spots on the ladder with two wins apiece for the year.
So a win was vital for both sides if they were to keep alive their small finals hopes.
But it was the Bears who took the points, getting home 20.12 (132)-9.8 (62) at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
The match started as if it would be a high-scoring affair, with Thomastown leading 39-31 at quarter-time.
From there the next two quarters were all the Bears as they broke the game open, and six goals in the last quarter iced the win.
Michael Di Battista kicked five goals for the winners and Todd Hughes five for Lalor, and both were named best on ground for their sides.
The Bears won their opening two matches of the season but this was their first since in their ninth game.
They now sit fifth on the seven-team ladder, two games outside the top four.
But the Bloods are now alone on the bottom, just 10 months after playing in a grand final
Meanwhile, the team which beat Lalor by just three points in that grand final, Whittlesea, is starting to find its feet in division 1.
After winning their first match of the season last week, the Eagles made it two in a row with a shock win over Bundoora.
Whittlesea got the jump on the Bulls, kicking seven goals to one in the first half to led by 38 points, as both teams were inaccurate in front of goal.
The margin grew to 47 points at the last break, before the Bulls fought back in the final quarter.
But it was too little too late and the Eagles went on to win 12.13 (85)-8.9 (57). Janan Daniel kicked three goals for the Eagles to take his season tally to 18.
Clancy Bland was best on ground in his return to the senior side.
The Eagles are now a game clear of bottom-placed Lower Plenty, while Bundoora sits fourth as one of three teams with a 6-4 record.
Division 3 saw big wins to both Epping and South Morang on Saturday.
After winning the reserves match by a whopping 171 points, Epping’s senior side then defeated beat Kilmore 26.13 (169)-5.9 (39).
Aaron Willitts was the key target up forward, kicking 11 goals.
South Morang defeated Heidelberg West 26.10 (166)-5.2 (32), while Mernda lost by 18 points to St Marys.
Epping (first) and South Morang (fourth) face each other on Saturday in what will be Division 3’s match of the round.
Meanwhile Mernda lost to St Mary’s.
