The Seagulls needed a late goal from captain Matthew Price to overcome Surrey Park 8-7 in one of the matches of the season at Mont Albert Reserve on Saturday.

With scores level, Price pounced on the ball at the top of the zone, and with a flick of the stick bounced it over the opposition goalkeeper.

"It ended up being a lucky win at the end of the day," Seagulls coach Darren Gibson said. "It was a low-scoring, intense game and both goalies played really well."

The tactics of both teams was to control possession and nullify needless turnovers. This created a lower-than-average scoreline and frustrating afternoon for attackers.

The sides went into half-time dead-locked at 3-3.

"In the big games you have a better level of goalkeeping and you don't want to waste the ball as much so you tend to play a bit more of a possession game," Gibson explained.

"It's harder for them to score if you've got it."

The Seagulls came out aggressive after the break with a three-goal-to-one third term.

Striker Ashley Wilkinson found his range with two crucial goals in that period.

Surrey Park would not be denied.

They finally negotiated way past Seagulls goalkeeper Evan Willis, who let his guard down for the first time in an otherwise superb match.

The home team hit back to level the scores in the dying minutes of a game Gibson described as a "nail-biter". Up stepped Price for the match-winner with about 90 seconds on the clock.

Other key scorers for the Seagulls were Kyle Morlang and Darren Nicholas with two apiece.

The Seagulls are riding high with one hand on the minor premiership.

They are expecting a late challenge from western suburbs rivals Footscray.

"I think Footscray could be one of our biggest challengers. They've recruited pretty hard and will be keen to make an impact."

The Seagulls will host lowly Malvern at Fearon Reserve in Williamstown on Saturday at 2.30pm.