AFTER 28 long games, it was just one solitary goal that cost Ballarat Red Devils a shot at promotion back to the National Premier League Victoria competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Reds drew 2-2 with Moreland Zebras on Saturday, consigning them a fourth-placed finish that means they can no longer climb to the highest league in Victoria.
Knowing a win would allow them to advance to the promotion play-off games, what ensued in the opening half at Morshead Park was hardly one for the memory bank.
The Zebras knew all they needed to do was hang on for a draw to reach the playoffs and neither side managed to create a lot of chances.
Scores were locked at 0-0 at the break, but it was not long until the flood gates opened.
Moreland opened their account shortly after half time, converting on the counter attack from a corner from the McDonalds Reds.
Trailing by a goal, Ballarat simply had to throw caution to the wind.
Jake Francis almost scored after 66 minutes, only to be denied by a great save from the opposition keeper.
However, Moreland soon double their lead all of a sudden Ballarat’s season looked over.
It would have been easy for the Reds to drop their heads, knowing they needed three goals in about 20 minutes, but to their credit they refused to throw in the towel.
Josh Romein and Charlie King both found the back of the net within five minutes of each other and all of a sudden, Ballarat was just one goal away from the promotion playoffs.
What followed would be a hectic few minutes, with Moreland using every tactic available to chew time off the clock.
However, Ballarat simply could not break through for an equaliser, subjecting them to a fourth-placed finish.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we couldn’t do it,” said coach James Robinson.
“The boys were despondent after the game and that is because of the high standards they set themselves.
“But it is what it is, the table doesn’t lie.”
We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we couldn’t do it."
- Ballarat coach James Robinson
Robinson said he could not have been prouder of his side’s push for promotion, which included an 11-match unbeaten streak at the back end of the season.
“The boys represented Ballarat in fine fashion all season,” he said.
“I told them I couldn’t be prouder of the way they went about it, we just couldn’t quite get there in the end.”
The Reds will remain in the NPLV1 next season.
