Goulburn Valley Suns found themselves playing a game submerged in drama against North Sunshine Eagles, eventually pulling off a come-from-behind 3-3 draw after two red cards and a half-time fracas which threw more petrol on an already charged contest.
The action was immediate, with spectators waiting less than 30 seconds for the opening goal.
A pedestrian effort from Eagles keeper Rory Brian had his touch scramble away and out of control and, under duress from Darcy Pawlik, the pressure produced a diamond for the Suns.
Taku Hishida was lingering to whisk the ball into an empty net and before some in the stands had yet sat down the scoreline read 1-0.
The early goal was a gift wrapped and sealed by North Sunshine, but the visitor worked its way back into the game on 15 minutes as a recycled corner was nodded home at the near post by midfielder Ryan Stewart.
Eager to reestablish the lead, the Suns probed and almost struck before half-time.
Brandon Giaccherini spun his man on the flank and fizzed in an inviting ball to Russell Currie, who sprayed the ball wide from point blank range.
One thing Suns fans have come to learn this season is the great Scot is never far from a goal and this would be the case ― this time 12 seconds after the half-time restart.
Coming out a side possessed following a tussle in the tunnel, where Eagles forward Redouane Sarakh allegedly struck Giaccherini, the Suns cruised back into pole position through their talismanic number nine.
Tutu Tuya dug out a lobbed through pass into the opposition box and Currie did not need an invitation to roll past a jittery Eagles defence and karate kick the ball into the back of the net.
Strangely, the second half followed a linear pattern to the first as Ryan Stewart knocked away another header not long after the Suns’ goal and it was back to parity once again.
However, the next quarter hour of play was about as box office as National Premier League football gets.
Eagle Nick Epifano flashed his teeth on the wing, turning his defender inside and out before crashing the ball past Jake Angelovski for the lead and mishap turned to misery for the Suns as Taya was shown a red card for a last man challenge.
Stewart then found himself walking for an early bath five minutes later for a tackle on Jake Brocklebank and if the supporters thought the drama was done, they were wrong.
More savvy wing play from Giaccherini eventuated with the ball at Adam Gatcum’s feet, who curled in a cross missed by the Eagles defenders.
It found Currie, who found the net, and once again the scores were level.
The 77th minute leveller spurred the Suns on, but Craig Carley’s side could not find the all-important winner which may have revived its season.
Instead, the Suns remain eight points off a promotion spot and will pray for a minor miracle to occur with three games left to play.
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