Last Saturday of State league one football pitted Cooma Tigers with a Weston Creek side vying for a top four finish in the league. Cooma headed into the weekend in first place while Weston Creek had to continue their strong performances to move from fifth to fourth and push for a finals berth. Cooma had to play without captain Marcial Munoz, as he was suspended for receiving four accumulative yellow cards. The match began quite fiery as Weston had the better of the opportunities within the first few minutes. Keeping the opposing danger at bay, Cooma began to play the style, which has made them the competition leaders. During the intense first half, Cooma striker Danny Gecic limped off the field with an injured hamstring pushing Serdan Bircan forward partnering the towering Todd Donalson in attack. Weston seemed to produce a defensive answer to each Cooma attack as the first half ended in a goalless stalemate.

In the change room, coach Gabby Wilk encouraged Cooma’s attacking play and wanted the goals to keep the Tiger’s premiership hopes alive.

The second half began with the same intensity produced in the first. Cooma continued to dominate the attack but couldn’t punish the opposition in the final third. The game took a turn for the worst for the Tigers when “the Kayser” Keno received a straight red after a Weston player fell down claiming an elbow to the face. Seconds later, Weston scored in the subsequent free kick, leaving the Cooma side stunned as that was the first goal in 364 minutes of play that they have conceded. The boys dug deep as they kept dominating proceedings even with the one-man deficit. The search for the equaliser became even harder as winger, Ian Elliot, was brought down, suffering a strained ankle. Cooma had a few clear-cut chances but the Weston Creek keeper and defenders seemed to be at the right place at the right time. It seemed like the day just wasn’t Cooma’s as headers, half-volleys, curling free kicks and powerful strikes were impressively saved by the opposition keeper or just headed wide of the goal. The Tigers were given a lifeline when a Weston player was given his marching orders towards the end of the match. Goalkeeper ‘Spider’ Rade kept Cooma in the match stopping a one on one situation by twice blocking the opposing players advances.