The Gold’s players and coaching staff were pleased with a competitive effort, but  critical mistakes left them wondering what might have been in the 9.12 (66) to 14.22 (106) defeat.

Take nothing away from the Dolphins, which deserved its fourth win of the season, and will rightly believe they should have iced the game earlier than the fourth quarter with better accuracy in front of goals.

But Bendigo’s skill and decision-making errors made Frankston’s second win in a row that bit easier.

The Gold showed it had come to play in the opening passages and was inspired by Tom Cain’s  defensive acts, which led to Alik Magin booting the game’s first goal at the Barnard Street end.

Frankston answered almost immediately, when Khan Haretuku caught Tom Hams, who wasn’t helped by a lack of voice from his team-mates, holding the ball 40m from goal.

Haretuku and Magin kicked another goal each in an entertaining start as Frankston led 14-12.

Both teams were wasteful going forward at times and the Gold was hanging in until Rhys Clark’s poor kick from defence went directly to his opposite number, Ziggie Alwan, who returned fire with interest for the Dolphins’ third.

Frankston added two more goals to lead 35-14 at the first break, before Bendigo surged with quick majors to Nathan Beck and Jackson Bolton in the second term.

That good work was soon undone by another turnover.

A kick-in went straight to Paul Kennedy, who slotted the Dolphins’ sixth.

Better kicking for goal could have put Frankston up by more than 22 points at half-time, but half of its six goals had come from turnovers.

The Dolphins started the better after half-time with two quck goals, before arguably the Gold’s best 15 minutes of the season.

Bendigo cleaned up its disposal, with its better ball-users Hams, Daniel Toman, Steve Stroobants and Magin finding more of the ball.

Hams banged through a 55m goal at the 12-minute mark, before Toman also slotted a long bomb.

Magin’s third goal after a spectacular grab from four-deep and Billy McInnes’ set shot after running down an opponent had the good-sized crowd roaring and the Gold only trailed 71-54 at the 27-minute mark.

A big final term was on the cards, but Michael Lourey’s goal on the siren took the wind out of Bendigo’s sails.

Frankston lead soon became a match-winning 41 points following Lourey’s fourth, plus  goals to  on-ballers Jason Pongracic and Luke Potts.

Best on ground Magin capped a super game with his late fourth goal – Bendigo’s only major of the term.

Frankston was deserved winners and had 36 scoring shots to 21, but the Gold was  rightfully disappointed..

“The effort was good, but we lost,” Bendigo Gold coach Aussie Jones said post-match.

“I felt that some of the areas that cost us were controllables. 

“There was some real basic stuff today that cost us scoring opportunities and gave them scoring opportunities.

“But we felt it was probably our best result – even including the Coburg game. 

“The instructions are starting to sink in, it would have been nice to happen six weeks ago, but that’s patience and that’s what we’ve got.” 

Bendigo next faces Port Melbourne at North Port Oval on Saturday. 

Statistics – Centre clearances: Gold 13-11 Frankston. Stoppages: 16-20. Inside 50s: 50-64. Marks inside 50: 11-29.