Thrilling 3-3 draw for United
Warragul United's State League One Season drew to the halfway point on Saturday as they entertained a red-hot and third placed Fitzroy City.
In a thrilling contest, United came back from a 2-0 deficit to 3-2 with 10 minutes left of the game, only to be stunned by a late Fitzroy equaliser.
Baley Row had a standout game, scored twice, and was awarded 'best on'. Rory Wagner also picked up an award after working tirelessly in attack and chipping in with a goal.
On a sunny afternoon at Baxter Park, the scene was set for what was expected to be a tough encounter against a well drilled, in-form Fitzroy opponent.
The Reserves team paved the way for the Senior squad earlier with an impressive 3-1 win. The win gives the reserves team their seventh win from 11 and sits them proudly in third..
United lined up with a somewhat identical side to last week where they secured the three points against Bentleigh.
Aidan 'Dos' Riley again donned the number one jersey again in goals. Last week's hero, Nick Modaffari, warhorse Matt Gauci and fellow veteran Danny Dunne made up an experienced back three with flanking fullbacks Mitch Jones and young Jobe Heusmann either side. Skipper Nathan Lugton and the aforementioned Baley Row marshalled the centre of the park in midfield and Rory Wagner took up his, now familiar position at centre forward with Germaine Otieno and livewire Sammy Gatpan on the wings.
Warragul were up against it early. Fitzroy are a good side. They play with purpose and structure, and it was clear to see why they'd only been beaten once this season.
They would be first to score, however in controversial circumstances. A low ball that was driven across the penalty area took a deflection yet was tapped in at the back post by a Fitzroy striker.
Fitzroy continued to press and would soon be up two-nil after punishing United with a well worked goal. The home side seemed deflated. There were big concerns on the Baxter Park hill, amongst the United faithful that this could quickly turn into a rout if they did not spark up.
Down by two goals and staring down the barrel, United regrouped and started to shift the momentum in their favour. Rory Wagner popped up and drilled home a neat finish following some nice lead-up play by Baley Row and then shortly after in an inspired spell Row made it 2-2 with a quality strike sending players and supporters into pandemonium. It stayed 2-2 as the referee blew for the halftime break.
Not long into the second term, tragedy struck as United lost their heavily relied upon Captain Lugton. He had come off second best in a nasty tackle that left him with a medial tear to his knee. He is likely to be out for six weeks in what is a big loss and Warragul's lynch pin in midfield.
Matt Maselli, who has been out with injury himself was brought on to replace Luggo in what would be his first kick in six weeks. He acquitted himself well as Warragul maintained their superiority.
With 30 minutes to go, coach Steve Maselli introduced Oscar Sheehan for Otieno and he would make an immediate impact with his pace and tenacity. He would join Wagner and Gatpan, who was having a cracker as well, in attack as United continued to overpower opponents and were pressing hard for a winner.
With just 10 minutes left on the clock Warragul went ahead. Baley Row was buzzing about and causing headaches for Fitzroy and it was he who would score the home side's third. He poked a low, instinctive shot wide of the keeper in a crowded penalty box to give his team a fairy-tale goal and one that many thought would be enough to secure the win.
Football can be a cruel game. Famous pundit, Jimmy Greaves once stated "it only takes a second to score a goal", and it was a one second lapse in concentration that allowed Fitzroy to sneak one at the death off of a corner kick after United had battled so hard. It finished 3-3 in what was the last and most heart-wrenching passage of play in the match.
To the neutral, it was a marvellous spectacle and a great example of what our code can offer. However, to the home players and supporters it was a very difficult pill to swallow as they had tasted victory, yet it was taken from them.
Next week: United travel away to hopefully turn over bottom placed Mazenod. Last time the two teams met, Warragul put an amazing 10 past them.