The trip to Templestowe to take on Manningham United Blues did not go as planned for Goulburn Valley Suns on Saturday, who suffered a demoralising 4-1 defeat which keeps them rooted to the bottom of the NPL2 ladder after 12 rounds.
In what many saw as a massive six-point game for both struggling sides, it was the Blues who rose to the occasion on their home turf at Pettys Reserve, opening the scoring through Jacob Byrns in the 15th minute.
He was at the double not long after, putting his side two to the good four minutes later.
To the Suns’ dismay, a Tutu Taya own goal on the stroke of half-time meant the visitors would go into the break 3-nil down.
Coach Craig Carley inserted young gun Alex Caldow as part of a raft of half-time changes, with Caldow quickly getting his side back into the contest with a goal in the 49th minute.
Substitute Noah Mihailidis was brought down by Suns keeper Lucas Enders late on, making no mistake from the spot to secure a crucial three points for the Blues.
The Suns are back at McEwen Reserve this Saturday for another crunch clash with Werribee City, which sits two spots above them on the ladder.
Moving into the back half of the season, each passing defeat means the fight for survival gets harder and harder for the Suns.
It’s no secret wins are now critical if the side is to stand any chance of avoiding a relegation play-off in September.