Footballers hosted Monbulk in a must-win clash to stay in touch with the four.

The task was not made any easier when Monbulk posted a healthy 8-221 from its allotted overs, courtesy of opener Steve Bohun (61) and Blake Walter (41).

Highly decorated batsman Chris Brittain (86), a devastating player when on song, entered the contest after failing to score in his previous two matches, but the new year delivered some lost form and he plundered the Monbulk attack.

With Brittain's departure, the Hawks fought back through tight bowling from Aaron Walter and Chris Martin and had the Ballers' in trouble at 8-180 before Ben Rawlings saw them home with one wicket to spare.

Playing at Chandler Park for the first time, Johnson Park was steady at 7-137 from 45 overs on a slow outfield against Belgrave.

Parkers' skipper Andrew Devenish collected a stylish 50 and awaits a big one before season's end. The captain received good support from Bryn Gaunt unbeaten on 40 while Michael Litterbach took 3-20 from nine overs.

After the tea interval, four good overs from opening bowlers Usman Arif and Troy Gstrein ended any hope of a Belgrave victory as it slumped to 4-2 with the top four bats failing to trouble the scorers. Belgrave limped to 86 before Arif took his fifth wicket, finishing with 5-19.

Ferntree Gully never recovered from 7-40 at The Basin before being rolled for 80. Good performances came from Danny Rundle and Jayden Turcinovic with three wickets apiece.

The Huntsmen had little trouble chasing, and won by six wickets, with Rundle in the game with 36 not out.

At Kings Park, Upper Gully's 8-140 was no match for Upwey Tecoma reaching the target with 11 overs to spare and five wickets in the bank.

Old-timers Mick Hewitt (36) and Brendan Heath (31 not out) making a return to the first team, had the game in control in the absence of skipper Matt Mulcahy who was playing in the Australian Country Championships in Geelong.