Dramatic finish as rivals end hopes of finals time

Teo Pellizzeri

August 25 2009

Shepparton News

A day of drama ended in heartbreak for Cobram Victory as it missed out on the Goulburn North East Football Association finals at the hands of its arch rival Cobram.

Tatura was the benefactor as its 3-1 win against Shepparton South and the Tigers' 3-2 win against Victory ended the regular season with the Ibises on 23 points in fourth, Cobram fifth with 23 but 12 goals difference behind Tatura, with Victory sixth on 22.

Victory had the chance to take fourth place in the dying moments against Cobram, but Nathan Thomas had a penalty saved by Cobram goalkeeper Brendon Johansson.

Had Thomas converted, Victory would have edged out Tatura by two goals difference.

Cobram had started the match with a bang, going 3-0 up in the opening 20 minutes through a goal to Frank Bazzano and two to Daniel Genovesi.

But news gradually filtered through that Tatura had raced to a 3-0 lead of its own against Shepparton South, meaning the Tigers' only chance of making the finals would be making up the goal difference or a big South comeback.

Nazz Santoro pegged a goal back for Victory after the half-hour mark and then set up a tense finish to the match when he netted his second after 17 minutes of the second half.

Daniele Raco had the chance to bury Victory, but his shot at an open goal hit the post on 81 minutes.

Victory then won its penalty kick when substitute Travis Luff was legged in the area in the 86th minute.

But Johansson read Thomas' low penalty kick and dived to his right to parry a save.

Victory would not have another opportunity as good as the match played out.

Cobram had off-field problems to negotiate on Friday night as it faced the Goulburn North East association tribunal on a misconduct charge after its team sheet from the previous weekend against Shepparton South contradicted the referees' report.

While it was found not guilty, the tribunal did find 2007 league best and fairest Carl Fannon had collected his third yellow card of the season and would have to sit out Sunday's match.