Bacchus Marsh was unable to hold off a fast-finishing Sunbury in the Ballarat Football League, losing by a single point on Saturday.
The match looked all but over at half-time with the Cobras on top at their home ground, but the Lions had different ideas.
The visitors kicked 11 goals to six in the second half to win 16.14 (110) to 17.7 (109).
Cobras football manager Adam Sutherland said the game shouldn’t have come down to the final minute.
“We were in front by five goals at half-time and playing at home. We’ve been in good form and we expected to win from that position, but Sunbury was too good.
“Our coach [Cameron Richardson] said after the game that the players went away from the game plan and that perhaps a bit of it was fitness.
“He [Richardson] said he had seen some worrying signs leading into the game, that we were off in areas, but when you are winning they don’t get noticed as much.”
Sutherland said the side had its chances to win in the last quarter.
“We had a shot with a couple of minutes to go and that would have put us in front.’’
Ben Peters, who Sutherland said was unlucky not to be in the BFL’s interleague team for this weekend, was best for the Cobras.
Playing coach Richardson kicked four goals.
“It was a disappointing loss, but the players are improving and we’re happy with the start to the season,’’ Sutherland said.
“It would have been good to get the win, as it would have got us to second spot on the ladder for the moment.’’
Despite the one-point margin, it wasn’t the closest game for the round, with Melton and Darley playing out a draw.
The Bloods led at every change and had to fight hard against a determined Darley, which had eight scoring shots to three in the final term to tie 11.8 (74) to 10.14 (74).
Kieran Butty kicked four goals for the Bloods, while Murphy Watt was best on ground. Mitchell Gillespie kicked three goals for Darley, with Mark Hanson named “best”.
Melton South lost to Lake Wendouree by 47 points, 18.18 (126) to 12.7 (79).
