Cairnlea walked away from the crucial state league 1 soccer clash with local rival Sydenham Park with one point after a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The two sides went into the match first and fourth on the table but the lower-ranked Sydenham got the jump with the first goal.
PICTURE GALLERY | Cairnlea v Sydenham Park
Cairnlea wasn’t about to let its hold over top spot disappear without a fight and it bounced back with a powerful strike from captain Mustafa Mustafa.
Cairnlea coach Kruni Razov was happy to come away with a point.
“I think it was a fair result,” he said. “They probably came out a bit stronger because this was pretty much their last chance of promotion.
“They had a few chances and we had a few chances. I don’t think we played really well but we got a point so I’m happy with that.”
After giving up four goals against Altona East a week before, the Reds made an effort to tighten the screws on the dangerous Sydenham attackers.
And with his side’s goal difference for the season at a league-high 15, Razov was happy with a more defensive mindset.
“It was a lot better considering we played lesser opposition last week and conceded four goals,” he said.
“We only conceded one this week and that was from a set piece from a corner.
“Our work at training during the week paid off.”
Cairnlea will now turn its attention to another crunch game against Preston Lions this week.
With the Reds dropping two points and Preston securing all three in round 18, the Lions go into the game in top spot with Cairnlea in second.
When they met earlier in the year it was a 4-2 victory to the Lions.
“It is a big game,” Razov said. “We need to go out there and give it our best shot and try to win that game. We certainly won’t be holding back I can tell you that much.”
