Bittersweet only begins to sum up the range of emotions Sunbury United was feeling after a 0-0 draw against Cairnlea clinched promotion to FFV state league 2 north-west on Saturday.
On one hand, Sunbury is up and has finally conquered state league 3 after a stunning collapse to miss out in 2010 and a narrow miss after a late charge in 2011.
On the other hand, the team had been preparing for a shot at the title during the week only to have those plans derailed when North Sunshine moved back into the promotion picture thanks to gaining three 3-0 forfeit wins.
Cairnlea set out to defend, and Sunbury certainly tried harder to fashion chances at goal.
But the handbrake was on; this was safety- first football.
“Today there was a lot at stake – you’ve got the championship if you win, but if you lose you miss out on promotion,” Sunbury coach Greg Czapnik said.
“Had we pinched it, fantastic. We didn’t go super-defensive. Cairnlea had five or six at the back.
“We virtually played a 4-4-1-1 and occasionally dropped a little bit deeper.
“We’ve got some super blokes who have given their heart and soul to this season. It was really hard. Had what occurred not occurred, it would have been a cracking game, the top two teams fighting it out with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“It was everything to lose today, and both sides were very cautious about that.”
Sunbury club president Charlie Pongrac said preparing for state league 2 was an imposing challenge.
“We’ve got to add players,” he said. “There will be changes, five or six, and we’ve got a great coach who is already planning. We were disappointed because last Saturday both teams thought they were promoted.
“I just hope the [FFV] looks at it next year in a different way. You can’t have three teams forfeiting – it’s just not on. Three teams hand over a 3-0 win and [North Sunshine] didn’t play; that’s just not right.”
Sunbury’s Leigh Mois was part of the team that was on course for the title in 2010 only to collapse with a six-game winless run.
“After last week the boys were ecstatic and thought promotion was secure,” he said.
“Instead we had to put our heads down and know there was 90 minutes left in the season.
“I was there [in 2010]. It was disappointing then, but to get promoted this season – what more can you ask for?”
