THE CARLTON Reserves were victorious in another tight-finishing thriller against Port Melbourne on Saturday night away from home.

In a perfect night for football, the Reserves fought off a strong Port Melbourne outfit 11.17 (83) to 14.10 (94).

In a back-and-forth affair, the defenders held strong. Youngster Harry Charleson shone in the back half with 27 disposals to his name. Alongside him, the experienced Lachie Cowan (25 disposals, five tackles) also played a pivotal role.

Through the middle, Ben Camporeale made his presence felt with 22 disposals, 10 tackles and four clearances. With him was captain Heath Ramshaw on return, collecting 21 disposals, 10 tackles and six clearances.

In the front half, Ashton Moir starred with four majors, while Harry Lemmey and Francis Evans (24 disposals) kicked three each.

Under lights at ETU stadium, it was a tough start to the game for both teams. With Carlton getting their hands on the footy first, Marc Pittonet had the first shot of the night for the Blues – however was unable to convert.

In the backline, Charleson was commanding throughout the quarter, collecting 12 disposals in the opening term.

Ramshaw (five disposals, three tackles) got involved early, with a one-two off half back to slingshot the Blues forward.

After a number of opportunities went begging, it was tall Harry Lemmey who got busy on the ground, finishing off a goal in the square following a clever handball from Corey Durdin.

Looking increasingly threatening in the forward half, Darcy Hogg continued his run of form, conjuring up six touches in the opening 20 minutes.

With a clearance from the centre bounce, Will White pulled a crafty kick into the middle of the forward 50, to find Phipps-Parsons. However, he too was unable to capitalise.

Despite leading in a number of areas, the Reserves went into the first break two goals down, with missed opportunities the theme.

Looking to get on top early, it was the perfect start to the second term for the Blues. A chain of linking handballs down the wing involving Archie Stevens and White, was capped off with a Moir goal.

Continuing where he left off, it was Charleson with a searing kick off half back to centre wing, followed by an elite pick up from Phipps-Parsons. After Finding Evans (14 first-half disposals, five tackles), it was a kick to White in the goal square who kicked his first to tie things up.

With pressure mounting, some fancy footwork from Durdin (six disposals) allowed him to check his kick late into the hands of the dangerous Evans – and with a set shot, he kicked true for his first and the Blues' third in a row.

After a number of efforts, it was fellow small forward Durdin who deservedly found himself on the end of a 50-metre penalty – he obliged by finishing off a set shot.

With their fourth goal of the quarter, third-game ruckman Flynn Riley followed up his own work with a blistering centre clearance falling into the arms of Evans. Once again, it resulted in a Blues major.

With the home side firing their own shots - kicking back-to-back goals - it didn’t take the Blues long to respond. In the dying minutes of the term, the smooth-moving Cowan (16 disposals) capped off his stellar quarter with a goal assist.

With a handball to Ben Camporeale (10 disposals) he set sail from beyond the arc to kick the goal. With the seventh lead change, the Blues hit the front on the stroke of the half-time break.

With a four-point lead coming into the third, it didn’t take long for the smalls to get involved again. An electric play from AFL-listed duo Evans and Durdin resulted in Darcy Hogg (12 disposals) launching with a set shot kick 40 metres out on the boundary.

In a seesawing quarter, Matt Carroll (20 disposals) began to flex his muscles in the backline.

After some back and forth, winning a free kick deep in attacking 50 was Lemmey. He kicked his second, as the Reserves were off to a flyer with back-to-back goals.

Despite the home side bringing the heat, another play beginning at half back resulted in Patrick Dozzi hitting the chest of Lemmey with a clever kick to space, striking it sweetly for he nailed his third.

Just when the Blues looked like breaking the game open, once again Port Melbourne clapped back - and equally, the Blues were up to the challenge.

A clearance started and finished by Moir (10 disposals, three clearances), who booted his second on the run from the 50-metre line.

Soon after, the siren concluded a back-and-forth affair. The Blues held a five-point lead at three-quarter time.

With the game coming right down to the wire, the Reserves had the run of the play in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter through two Ben Camporeale clearances (four clearances).

With contest after contest, Ramshaw (21 disposals, 10 tackles) once again got involved through the middle – and found a target deep in the pocket. Tucked up against the boundary line, Moir split the middle – an unbelievable finish to bolster the lead to two goals.

In a turn of events - against the run of play - the home side took the lead, shaping up what would be a thrilling last 10 minutes.

Applying increasing pressure in the forward half, Evans was awarded a free kick off the back of a scintillating chase-down tackle. With a set shot, he kicked true for his third major to give the Blues back the lead.

Seeming to have all the answers, it was Moir taking a towering contested mark 40 metres out directly in front. With composure, he converted for his fourth and boosted the lead out to 11 points.

The siren sounded - the Blues were too good despite a relentless fight from Port Melbourne.

The Reserves will be back in action next Saturday night, taking on Collingwood at 7:10pm at IKON Park.

CARLTON RESERVES       1.5     7.7     11.8      14.10 (94)
NORTH MELBOURNE       3.5     6.9     9.15       11.17 (83)

GOALS
Carlton: Moir 4, Evans 3, Lemmey 3, B Camporeale, Durdin, Hogg, White

BEST
Carlton: Evans, Moir, Carroll, Cowan, Pittonet, Charleson