The Storm were in a precarious position before the weekend, requiring Redan to lose and for them to beat North Ballarat City.

Redan went down to Lake Wendouree on Saturday, leaving the door open for the Storm to qualify in the top four with a win over North Ballarat.

Cold and windy conditions greeted the sides at North Park on Sunday, with the wind going on to play a part in the result of the match.

Kicking with the breeze in the first term, the Storm took a crucial nine-point lead on a day where scoring was difficult.

North Ballarat hit the scoreboard with a goal in the second term but still trailed by five point at half-time.

Ararat took full advantage of the breeze once again in the third quarter, doubling their score and holding a commanding 16-point lead. 

North Ballarat kicked their second goal of the game in the final term, with all majors kicked for the match at one end of the field.

Ararat’s defense stood up under pressure to hold on for a 2.11 (23) to 2.1 (13) victory.

“I think defensively all day we did really well,” Ararat Storm coach Krystal Cameron said.

“Just that composure at the end to quiet down a bit and slow down the play was good. We have 11 new girls in the side so it is all about learning.”

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With the bye in the final round next weekend, the Storm have confirmed a spot in the top four and the finals.

They cannot finish anywhere other than fourth after at the conclusion of the home-and-away season.

Cameron said there weren’t too many nerves before the match. 

“Not nervous per say, it was just more about making sure we improved on last week’s efforts and they did that tremendously,” she said.

“We will see how we go with (the week off).

“Ideally we would have liked to keep the momentum going but we will do that a training and make sure we have the intensity up.”

Ararat’s first finals opponent will be determined following next weekend’s final round. The top three teams are all equal on 40 points.