Close but not enough for the Lions

STONY Creek, two wins from the league’s sixth-placed side and their weekend opponent Thorpdale, were well aware that it was a do-or-die clash for them.

A win would provide a glimmer of hope that finals were still a possibility, a loss however would have them floundering and hoping for a miracle as they faced the remaining six rounds of the home and away season.

The result, another one kick loss, a devastating blow for the Lions.

“After quarter time our boys showed they have the ability to go with top teams, controlling the game from then on just to fall five points short at the final siren,” Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach said.

The visiting Blues didn’t have everything go their way, in fact, it was their opponents Stony Creek who actually helped their cause.

“It was a week when player availability was at an all-time low with only thirty-three players available on the day,” Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale coach said.

“Big shout out to Stony for helping us out with numbers so we could get a reserves side on the park. The aim was to get a win in the seniors and not forfeit the seconds so pretty happy we ticked that box for the day. In the seniors, a dominant first quarter set up the win. Credit to Stony who slowly but surely worked their way into the game and were probably stiff in the end not to pinch it late.”

The football gods can be cruel sometimes and the Lions know that well, their helping hand to the Blues not returned with a positive result, but rather another one-kick loss that has changed the trajectory of their season from a possible contender to a frustrating what could have been season.