As the minutes ticked to seconds, Springvale launched another attempt to get the ball into their penalty box, but to no avail as Malvern City held on for an upset 1-0 victory to advance to the next round of the FFA Cup.
In those dying stages, English forward John Pykett hears a disgruntled voice from the behind the fence at the team’s performance, describing them as the worst White Eagles team in recent memory.
The lifeless performance against the State League One side was arguably the team’s worst of the season, and following another poor start to the current campaign which saw them winless after seven rounds, the club had a tough decision to make.
After a sitting down with manager Boyan Mitkov and his assistant Gus Caminos, the committee and the coaching pair agreed to part ways in a mutual decision.
Mitkov’s tenure lasted a matter of months, and despite improved performances, the winless run saw crowd numbers failing at White Eagles Stadium.
In his place came Nik Kovacevic, who took over the reins having previously been manager of State League Two outfit Fitzroy City, and up until recently was coaching the Pascoe Vale 20s.
Kovacevic had spent five years at the club as a player, captaining the club in better times, with Springvale undergoing a period of mediocrity in the NPL era after two underwhelming seasons.
His first game saw the club record a routine 5-2 win over Nunawading City, which must have served as a confidence booster to the playing squad, who had not tasted victory since a 2-0 win over Ashburton in a pre-season friendly all the way back at the beginning of February.
Their next challenge was more formidable as they faced local rivals Dandenong City at home, having not recorded a win over Hajduk since 2013.
An upset 1-0 triumph followed, with 18-year-old substitute Isiah Joseph scoring a 79th minute winner after heading home from close range.
Jubilant scenes in the stands and home dressing room followed as the club set their sights on attempting to tame the high flying Moreland Zebras, who stood top of the NPL2 West standings.
The Zebras were flying after a 4-0 demolition of the previous front-runners Whittlesea Ranges, and with Baggio Yousif in top form, were expected to ease to victory over the resurgent White Eagles.
But Kovacevic’s men hadn’t read such a script, and despite falling behind to a Nejc Kolman first-half wonder strike, came from behind to take a 2-1 lead mid-way through the second half thanks to goals from Pykett and Jason Ricciuti.
However, the in-from Baggio Yousif equalised in the 79th minute as the vocal crowd at CB Smith Reserve braced themselves for a grandstand finish, with most expecting to see the home side grab a late winner.
Enter Damir Stoilovic.
The exciting teenager finished with aplomb after some excellent lead-up play from man-of-the-match Pykett, scoring his fifth goal of the campaign just two minutes after Yousif’s leveller.
Despite some nervy moments late on, the White Eagles hung on, in the process perhaps causing the biggest boilover of the season by defeating Danny Gnjidic’s men, who had won their previous five and were in red-hot form.
That’s now three wins from three in the Kovacevic era as Springvale rise to joint 6th on the NPL2 East table with 12 points, having been stuck on three points and sitting 9th just three games ago.
It also marked the first time in NPL history that the White Eagles have won three league games in succession, having only won a total of four matches over the course of the 2015 season.
A hallmark of their playing squad has been its youthful nature; six teenagers have made their senior debut for Springvale over the course of the opening 10 rounds.
17-year-old defender Nikolai Skaler became the latest of that contingent following in the footsteps of Stoilovic, Joseph, Dimitar Mitkov, Luca Presutti and Jack Louziotis, with 16 year-olds Nikola Popetrov and Damjan Dragisic making further senior appearances after debuting last season.
One player from that group who has been particularly impressive has been Mitkov, who adhered to the club’s wishes by electing to stay on with the White Eagles despite the departure of his father from the managerial hotseat.
In this period Kovacevic has been without the services of captain Jordan Ballerini and the attacking midfield talents of Ryan Babare, who are both working their way back to full fitness following injury-disrupted starts to 2016.
But the duo will face a battle to return to the starting XI, with the defensive pairing of Erdem Ozcagli and Marcus Holmes in fine form, while Stoilovic has commanded the number 10 role in the absence of Babare.
With spirits high in camp, the rejuvenated White Eagles now turn their attention towards next Saturday’s home fixture against the St Albans Saints, and will no doubt hope that their winning streak can continue, with the likes of Pykett now warranting cheers from their own supporters.