Lockhart's one-point win over Culcairn has them back in the mix to play Hume league finals

The seventh-placed Demons are now level on percentage with Brock-Burrum and Henty under the Hume league's newly-activated match ratio system.

Jeff Ladd kicked four goals in their 7.14 (56) to 8.7 (55) victory over the gutsy Lions.

"It came down to the last couple of minutes so it was good to get a win and keep our season alive," Lockhart coach Mitch Carroll said.

"Credit to Culcairn.

"I know they had a few players out through injury and maybe COVID things but they made us earn it.

"They didn't stop all day."

Culcairn kicked 5.6 in the first quarter and led by 13 points at the break but Craig Bosley's side were kept scoreless in the second period.

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The home team trailed by five points at half-time and had wrestled control of the game by the final change, opening up a nine-point advantage.

But the Demons failed to kick a goal in the final term and their profligacy gave Culcairn hope of snatching a result.

Chas Retallick booted three majors for the visitors but it wasn't quite enough to swing the game their way.

"We had a lot of inside-50s that we didn't capitalise on early," Carroll said.

"It was good having Zach Sheather in there to be better out of the clearances but we didn't kick very accurately.

"That was our first win at home all year so it's a massive confidence-booster for us.

"It's good knowing we have another three games at home and hopefully we can carry that confidence into the remaining rounds."

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