Mere moments away from taking a monumental three points away from Bendigo Amateur Soccer League titan Strathdale, Shepparton South was poised to sing the song at Beischer Park on Sunday.
One swift counterattack later, suddenly the Southerners were settling for silence — and a sole point — instead.
Though dismayed at not picking up full marks, South coach Robert Harmeston was buoyed at how his side is beginning to gel at the halfway mark.
“Their keeper was a lot busier than ours,” Harmeston said.
“We definitely deserved at least a point, our boys mixed it with them and were unlucky to drop the points.
“I am happy with the point against them though, the boys gave it their all, so I can’t complain.”
A cagey first half at Strathdale’s home was held in the balance, largely thanks to the work of Blues shot stopper Daniel Prince.
South had the host backtracking just to keep the scores locked and not long after the clock ticked over the hour mark, the pressure became insurmountable.
The Southerners were ahead — and who else but talisman Joel Aitken to do it.
A dissecting ball sent forward from defence hit the feet of the rangy striker, who wasted no time turning and striking past Prince for Aitken’s sixth goal in as many games.
From there, the Southerners kept their feet on the throat of Strathdale with a win seemingly signed, sealed and ready for delivery.
And if not for an 89th minute lapse, that would have been the case.
A long ball thumped into South's box was capitalised on by former South man Kieryn McKemmish, barreling home the late equaliser to steal a point from the visitor.
However, Sunday's draw is the first occasion Strathdale has dropped points all season, making the magnitude of South's efforts all the more astonishing.
● At Stanley Avenue, Tatura continued its ascent up the ladder with a convincing 2-0 win over Spring Gully.
A frustrating first half where the ball simply wouldn't find the net was remedied early in the second, with Thomas Leech unleashing from a set piece to grant the Ibises ascendancy.
Eight minutes later it was two.
Kyle Minicozzi returned to scoring form with a tap in, marking his first goal since a scintillating round one hat-trick against La Trobe.
The win now moves Tatura into fourth, seven points off Strathdale which occupies top spot.
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