Updated February 25, 2017 14:17:18

The Demons held off a last-quarter Carlton comeback to win their AFLW match by a goal at Casey Fields in Melbourne.

The 6.6 (42) to 5.6 (36) win on Saturday keeps the Demons within a match of the top two, three rounds before the grand final.

Trailing by 19 points at three-quarter time, the Blues kicked three goals in nine minutes to level the scores.

But with three minutes left, the Demons surged forward and Richelle Cranston was by herself.

Cranston marked and scored and Melbourne held on for the crucial victory.

The loss puts the Blues two matches behind unbeaten Adelaide and Brisbane.

Demons captain Daisy Pearce was best on ground with a match-high 28 disposals and Alyssa Mifsud kicked two goals.

Carlton's Isabella Ayre kicked her two goals in the last-quarter surge and Sarah Hosking had 12 possessions.

AAP

Topics: australian-football-league, sport, cranbourne-3977, carlton-3053

First posted February 25, 2017 14:12:29