As is often the case when these two sides meet, it was an abrasive end-to-end clash with both Lachlan Colquhoun and Michael Lobb forced into several good saves across the course of the contest.
Former Kings player Nic Finlayson opened the scoring early for Albany with a well-taken drag flick, and that was the least the Gators deserved after a dominant start.
They could have had another, too, though Johnny Thorn hesitated after making a great run forward into the circle.
In the second quarter, against the run of play, a sweeping counterattack was followed by a dime of a ball being delivered to the back post, where Max Braithwaite calmly deflected home to level the score.
Minutes later, another sweeping counter ended with Daniel Torr sent through on goal, and he unleashed a thunderous sweep that gave Lobb no chance, putting Kings in front heading into halftime.
Albany came out with renewed zip in the third quarter, and eventually Jack Cotton equalised from close range.
The men in red dominated the rest of the quarter, though lacked their usual killer edge in the circle, and it would come back to bite them.
Kings regrouped and really came out firing in the last quarter. There were a few close shaves before Chatfield, a defender by trade, popped up with a minute to go to smash home the winner.
The result means the Taieri Tuataras, who were 12-1 winners in Southland on the back of eight goals by James Nicolson, go clear at the top of the table.
It sets up a blockbuster midweek clash when Kings and Albany will meet again in a game that could decide second spot for the regular season.
In the premier women’s competition, the Kings United Royals were dominant, but lacked a bit of punch, as they fell to the City Highlanders.
City scored early on through Anna McLean and that ultimately proved enough for them to get a 1-0 win.
Despite the win, City remained third on the table, after Momona breezed to a 4-0 win over the University Stingrays.
In the day’s final game, the University Huskies surged past the Taieri Tigers 2-0 to all but sew up their top four spot.
The game between the University Whales and Panthers has been deferred to Wednesday.
— Nicholas Friedlander
