IT was a case of close but not close enough for Sunshine Heights on Saturday, the Dragons going down by 13 points to Manor Lakes in Western Region Football League’s division two.
The Dragons got within a point of the Storm in the final term, but two late goals to Manor Lakes put the result beyond doubt.
Sunshine Heights coach Daniel Xuereb said the loss opened the door for teams lower on the ladder to take their fifth spot. But Dragons fans needn’t worry too much: they’re still two games and more than 70 per cent clear of Albanvale in sixth.
The game followed a pattern for much of the afternoon. Lakes started the quarters well only for Heights to come back later in the term.
The Dragons trailed by just eight points at three-quarter-time but were snuffed out of an upset by the Storm.
In other matches, Albanvale could manage only a seven-point win over bottom-of-the-table Laverton.
Caroline Springs suffered a 78-point loss at the hands of undefeated Glen Orden; North Sunshine had its heaviest loss of the season against Parkside by 243 points; and Braybrook lost to West Footscray by 17.
