After looking down and out for most of the match, the Bulldogs hit the front for the first time when best afield Sam Cross snapped a goal with only five minutes left on the clock.

It was Thurgoona’s fourth win in a row.

Coach Peter Copley praised the Bulldogs’ never-say-die attitude.

“It was one of those games where you had to show a lot of heart and never give up,” Copley said.

“I thought our spirit was great.

“It wasn’t flashy but the boys got the job done.

“We were in trouble a few times and the pleasing thing was that we kept at it.

“It just came down to hard work.”

Beechworth coach Nic Barnes was left gutted by the defeat with the Bushies’ inaccuracy in front of goal in the opening quarter coming back to haunt them.

They kicked 3.7 to 1.4 and should have led by at least four goals in the atrocious conditions.

Tom Cartledge was outstanding for Beechworth with his pace and creativity hurting Thurgoona on many occasions while Brenton Surrey worked tirelessly in the midfield.

Matt Hunt was dangerous in attack, Brayden Carey mopped up well across half-back, Hamish Malsem showed his talent on a wing and Gareth Pritchard booted two classy goals in the third quarter.

But Beechworth failed to put Thurgoona away at crucial times and Cross, Lucas Mellier and James Paton lifted when needed.

Rhys Hensel, Will Moffitt and Zac Oliver also played well.

Aidan Jenkin was another to bob up, with his two majors late in the third quarter pegging the deficit back to a manageable eight points at three quarter-time.

It was a gutsy win by Thurgoona considering trump card Kade Brown was taken off in the third quarter “as a precautionary measure” with soreness.

The Bulldogs will take removing from third position as it plays Wahgunyah, Barnawartha and Yackandandah in the final three rounds.

Yackandandah put itself firmly in the finals picture by upsetting Barnawartha by 20 points at Barnawartha.

The Roos made their move in the second quarter by kicking 3.3 to 0.1 and refused to look back with Trent Castles starring in attack.

He kicked five of the visitors’ seven majors and received good support from Josh Pan, Luke Hillier and Daniel Cassidy.

Josh Spence and Steve Bradshaw were best for Barnawartha.

Tyson Smith led Tallangatta to a vital 50-point win over Dederang-Mount Beauty.

The fourth-placed Hoppers also gained good drive from Darcy Carroll, Tom Russell and Aaron Baker.

Rutherglen’s late charge continued when it defeated Mitta United, while Wahgunyah defeated Wodonga Saints by 93 points.