Goulburn Valley Suns have one last hurdle to hop.
A stormy, relegation-ridden cloud has hung heavy over the Orangemen for months, but another win in the Victorian Premier League Two at the weekend has prised another pocket of breathing room open for them in the fight for survival.
The Suns fought hammer and tong to emerge with a backs-to-the-wall 2-1 victory over Pascoe Vale at McEwen Reserve on Saturday, staying one point above the drop zone.
And as far as storylines go, this game was JK Rowling-esque.
Defender Liam Kielty, who spent last season at Pascoe Vale, pushed the Suns ahead in the first half with his first goal in more than three seasons.
Rest assured; the towering centre-half celebrated with heavy shades of vim after nodding home from a free kick as he reminded his former club what he had to offer.
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GV Suns' Adam Gatcum winds up a throw in. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
GV Suns' Liam Kielty steps in a starts an attack from the back. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
GV Suns' Hassan Alhilfi swings a corner in from the left hand side. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
GV Suns' Liam Kielty rises up to win a hair-raising header. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
GV Suns' Jack Wardle skips past Pascoe Vale's Nick Hatzigeorgiou with ease. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
GV Suns' Jake Rumble looks up for the long diagonal. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
GV Suns' Greg Nash stays touch-tight to Pascoe Vale's Thomas Alisandratos. Photo by Rechelle ZammitBut the Suns’ smiles were short-lived.
Adam Gatcum was given a second yellow card before half-time in a dubious manner, with the referee waving away two fouls in the lead up before sending the Suns full back off.
Down to 10 men with a half to play, the Suns were pegged back further as Pascoe Vale’s Maxx Green broke through and caressed the ball into the bottom corner as the clock ticked past 60 minutes.
At 1-1, needing a second, who did the Suns turn to in the hour of need?
Who else but Callum Schorah.
The classy English midfielder finished off a stylish move by Russell Currie, with the big man making mannequins out of Pascoe Vale defenders before crossing for Schorah to convert for his 13th goal of the season.
Mayhem became madness as the travellers hit the post with the final kick of the match, but as it pinged off the upright and out, the Suns were in.
Victorious coach Craig Carley was jubilant in the game’s aftermath, showering praise on the Orangemen’s pluck in a must-win game against a slick-moving opposition.
“Pascoe Vale are a quality outfit. They’re probably the best team I believe we’ve played against over both games,” he said.
They keep the ball really well, really set up in their moves and what they do but again, credit to our boys. They held firm, took their chances when they presented and defended really, really well.
“It was a really resilient display, we weathered pressure at times, but also played some really good football too.
“Again, we’ve given ourselves an opportunity of survival and I’ve got full belief that we can do it now.”
News photographer Rechelle Zammit captured some footage from the game below.