EFL 2018: Nunawading falls 12 points short of ending its 1134-day losing streak
IT WAS a case of so near yet so far for Nunawading Football Club, after the Lions fell just 12 points short of ending a torturous losing streak.
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SO near yet so far.
The Eastern Football League’s Nunawading fell agonisingly close to ending their three-year losing drought on Saturday, suffering a 12-point defeat against Coldstream.
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The Lions trailed at every change but were within striking distance of a breakthrough victory at quarter-time, trailing by just 11 points to have fans dreaming of the cellar dweller’s first win since June 20, 2015.
Nunawading got to within four points and had a chance to hit the front halfway through the last quarter, only for the shot to hit the post.
Coldstream quickly replied with its only goal of the final term to help the Cougars to a 12.17 (89) to 11.11 (77) win.
The score was Nunawading’s biggest since Round 10, 2015 when it kicked 21.10 (136).
“Had our chances in the last, it was pretty tight and congested in the last quarter,” Nunawading coach Paul Bevan said.
“Had our opportunities but just couldn’t quite get over the line.”
Bevan said he thought the Lions’ losing streak, which has lasted 1134 days, was going to come to an end.
“From my point of view, it was just about trying to keep the boys composed and get them in the right frame of mind about thinking what we needed to do to get over the line,” he said.
“Obviously not winning a game for so long, we’ve probably forgotten how to win and it’s about trying to get yourself in the right position.
“If you make a couple of errors and then they drop their heads but it is a mindset thing, 100 per cent.
“If you get that one win it will teach them how to win but it’s probably about teaching people how to win.”
Nunawading’s next game will be against the top of the table Glen Waverley Hawks on Saturday.
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