WILLIAMSTOWN is facing relative oblivion unless it can pull a rabbit out of a hat in the final month of the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league3 north-west season.
The freefalling Blues are staring at consecutive relegations and could be lost to the state leagues unless they can arrest the slide.
Their survival prospects were looking brighter a week ago when they upset North Sunshine Eagles and the good vibes rolled over to Saturday when they held a one-goal half-time lead over Cairnlea at Cairnlea Park.
But in the space of 45 minutes it unravelled as the Blues dropped all three points in a 2-1 loss.
“It was pretty bad,” Blues captain Nick Darbyshire said of the collapse.
The Blues were left crying foul after the game. They were adamant that a penalty which led to the Reds’ equalising goal from Kemal Irdem was a misinterpretation by the referee. The visiting Blues then lost their way with the scores locked at 1-1, going away from the passing game that was so successful in the first half and allowing ill-discipline to creep into their game.
“A few of the young boys got a bit heated,” Darbyshire said. “We lost the discipline and started giving away silly free kicks.”
Cairnlea benefited from one such free when Metin Alibeyi fired in the winning goal
from the left side of the 18-yard box. Blues goalkeeper Adrian Gvozdic had no chance to make a save.
It sparked wild celebrations on the Reds’ bench and left the Blues with that old sinking feeling.
Earlier on, it was all the Blues, with Cameron Webb giving the underdogs the lead in the 35th minute after some nice build-up play from return-from-injury winger Brad Cassion.
The Blues kept the hosts in the game because of their inability to get an insurance goal. “We played the ball well on the floor and had a lot of movement off the ball,” Darbyshire said. “We probably could’ve had a couple more goals on the board.”
The loss leaves the Blues bottom of the ladder.
Where there is life, there’s hope, but inroads must start with the visit of Hume United to JT Grey Reserve on Saturday.
“If we can win three out of our last four games, it will be enough,” Darbyshire said.
“We’ve got to give it everything we’ve got.”
The Blues will have to do it without centre back Andrew Currie, who was red-carded
after the final whistle for dissent towards the referee.
For FFV updates, follow Lance Jenkinson on Twitter @westsport
