SANDRINGHAM has defeated Footscray by three points in a nail-biting finish at Trevor Barker Beach oval.

Fresh off last week's VFL bye, the Zebras are now one game clear in fourth position at 7-3 and boasting a healthy percentage.

The home side didn't get through the match unscathed, with early injuries to St Kilda-listed pair Tom Curren (ankle) and Blake Acres (finger), leaving them with a two-man interchange bench before half time.

When asked about the injuries post-match, Zebras' coach Paul Hudson said their severity of both players is unclear but they weren't taking any risks with them given their importance.

The first quarter took some time to get going with several turnovers and a lack of quality finishing from both sides, the Zebras taking a two point lead into the first break.

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The second term belonged to the Dogs though, a six-goal to four quarter that proved why Ashley Hansen's team sit in top eight with the ability to push for the top four.

Strong contested marks from key forward Paddy McCartin (14 disposals, 8 marks, 4 goals) gave St Kilda supporters glimpses of the future, while midfield leaders Clinton Jones (38 disposals, 18 tackles, 1 goal) and skipper Adam Cockie (24 disposals, 11 tackles, 1 goal) typified the fighting Zebra spirit heading into the second half.

Ruckmen Jason Holmes (7 disposals, 3 marks, 26 hit outs) and Tom Hickey (16 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal, 18 hit outs) worked in tandem to feed their midfield with Ahmed Saad (17 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals) pouncing at every forward spillage.

Such was the home side's third quarter dominance that the Dogs didn't score a goal until the 27-minute mark, after the Zebras' had kicked five in a row to take a telling 16-point lead into the last change.

But the Dogs weren't done with yet and would throw everything at the Zebras in the final quarter.

Footscray kept coming and converted three goals in a row to cut it back to four points with minutes to play.

A last forward surge by the visitors looked on target, only to be fisted through for a behind in a match winning defensive effort by Mitch Brown (33 disposals, 7 marks).

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St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Coach Paul Hudson was full of praise for his players in what he described as "a character building win."

"It was a terrific win by our players," Hudson told SAINTS.com.au.

"Footscray are a very good football side and to win without Tom Curren and Blake Acres, two of our important midfielders out early, it was a big challenge to re-adjust our side and still fight out a very good win.

"Clinton Jones and Adam Cockie were outstanding as our midfield leaders and Paddy McCartin was the standout key forward, along with Mitch Brown and Tom Lee who held the back half up pretty well.

"Collingwood presents another big challenge for us next week and having watched them yesterday (in a two point win over the Box Hill Hawks), we'll need to bring our best to take them down on their home deck."

Sandringham travels to Victoria Park next Saturday to take on the seventh placed Magpies.

SANDRINGHAM 2.5 6.8 11.9 15.11 (101)

FOOTSCRAY 2.3 8.5 9.5 15.8 (98)

GOALS: McCartin 4, Shenton 2, Saad 2, Sinclair, Jones, Dennis-Lane, Cockie, Templeton, Saunders, Hickey

BEST: McCartin, Jones, Cockie, Holmes, Saad, Brown