The Knights suffered a heart breaking loss to the Oakleigh Chargers at Preston City Oval on Sunday. On the scoreboard it was a very tight contest, however the Knights led the way in possessions, marks and inside 50’s.
Efficiency of disposal and allowing Oakleigh a high inside 50 conversion rate were two very costly factors that prevented the Knights from recording only their fourth win of the season.
Tom Hill got the Knights going in the first minute of the game, however it was the only goal of the term for the home team as Oakleigh
got out to a two goal lead at quarter time.
There was a bit of scoreboard jousting in the second quarter with both sides managing two goals to round out a fairly even first half. Unfortunately the Knights bench was already depleted after losing two key players before half time. Jaryd Cachia injured his shoulder in the first term and Michael Hurley his ankle in the second.
The goal for goal contest continued into the third quarter. Oakleigh jumped ahead with two quick goals before the Knights replied with two of their own. The same pattern happened to end the quarter as well with Glenn Grgic and Luke Stanton kicking the last two goals of the term at a key time to bring the margin back to 15 points at the final change.
Already with two goals to his name Michael Still added another two in the first ten minutes of the quarter, while Brent Wallace chimed in for a goal at a crucial moment, as he has been doing so often this season. When Vice Captain Hamish Paynter kicked a goal the Knights were within a point and were full of momentum.
As the tension grew scores drew level before Still took a classic pack mark 30 metres out from goal late in the game and converted for his fifth goal to give the Knights their first lead since early in the first quarter.
Unfortunately the Knights couldn’t retain the lead as Chargers Vic Metro players James Strauss and Zachary Clarke added goals to draw level and take the lead in time on. In the end it was a seven point win to the Chargers.
Oakleigh Chargers 13.9.87 def. Northern Knights 12.8.80
Goals: Still 5, Zaharakis, Paynter, Wallace, Hill, Grgic, Stanton, Stavely
Best: Still, Hill, Zaharakis, Griffiths, Boyden, Paynter
Last Modified on 25/08/2008 14:30