SOCCER can be a cruel game – just ask the supporters of the St Albans Saints.
For 88 minutes of the team’s Football Federation Victoria Premier League clash with Preston Lions at Churchill Reserve on Sunday, St Albans looked destined to get a desperately needed point out of the match.
With just seconds on the clock, though, with the score level at 11, the travelling Lions found the back of the net with a messy goal, breaking the hearts of the home fans.
It was a goal that made the Saints’ task of surviving the a drop to the state leagues all the more difficult, for it is desperately running out of time to make up the threepoint gap to Sunshine Georgies in 12th spot and avoid relegation.
St Albans went behind at the 21 minute mark when Daniel Miller found his range for Preston, but 10 minutes later found the equaliser after a wellworked move ended with a diving header from Ivan Antic.
Driving rain interrupted the flow of the game in the second half, but when it cleared it was the Lions who broke the stalemate, Anthony Magnacca tapping home a failed clearance to make it 21.
Melbourne Knights will struggle to make the finals this season, but ensured Bentleigh a bottomoftheladder finish and a spot in the state leagues next year with a 30 victory on Sunday.
In State League Two, Keilor Park looks on track to be promoted after it defeated North Sunshine 20 thanks to a double from Atef El Dib.
