A TIGHT finish in the weekend’s BLG A grade grand final made for exciting theatre for all involved, with an all-day arm wrestle going right down to the wire.
With both Willaston and Angaston looking to break their premiership droughts, it was Willaston coming home by three points to mark an exciting finish to the season.
The result was not without its controversy, though, with many an Angaston supporter taking to social media to express their disappointment in the result.
Looking at the replay, there is definitely an argument for a questionable free kick resulting in Willaston gaining the lead in the dying stages of the game.
But what needs to be remembered – and this applies to pretty much every sport on the planet – that you can not blame a result on one decision.
It was, by all accounts, a thrilling game from start to finish.
The lead changed hands multiple times going into the death, with both teams having the opportunity to put their opponents away.
The game could have still been won, if not for some inaccuracy in the dying moments.
Obviously, Angaston’s players and supporter base would be very disappointed to see a fantastic season fall three points short.
But that does not take away from the fact that the club turned its fortunes around from not making finals in 2023 to being within a kick of ultimate football success.
There will no doubt be continued questions around the decision to grant a free kick in front of Willaston’s goals – any one-eyed football supporter would do the same if their club lost by three points.
However, a game of football is made up of every individual moment in the game – good team play, individual brilliance, hitting those one-percenters and converting on the scoreboard.
And umpiring high-pressure games like an A grade grand final is no easy gig.
The result will not change, but the crowd’s attitude certainly can.
The only thing left to do for the teams involved is to learn from their seasons and strive for success when 2025 comes around.
No doubt Angaston will remember the game for a long time to come and will be out to even the ledger next year
