Golden City will consider lodging an appeal to the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League after it suffered a 3-2 loss to Shepparton United in extraordinary circumstances on Sunday.
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The Rams led 2-1 at the end of 90 minutes before Shepparton United scored twice in an injury time period that Golden City timed as 13 minutes.
"After 90 minutes we thought we were going to win and then in the space of 13 minutes we had Charlie (Peacock) red carded, conceded two goals and lost 3-2,'' Golden City coach Nathan Claridge said of the game in Shepparton.
"I have no issues with Charlie's red card in the 90th minute - it was a bad tackle. At that point the referee said four minutes of extra time to go plus some more time for this incident.
"Three minutes later Shepparton United scored to make it 2-2. Two or three minutes after that one of the Shepparton United players went down with a broken ankle.
"There wasn't a long delay because it happened near the sideline and they shuffled him off the ground on a stretcher.
"By then we were about seven or eight minutes into injury time and then it just dragged on for another five minutes.
"Shepparton United went forward, there was a scramble and the ball went into the back of the net.
"They started celebrating and the referee blew his whistle for full-time. The game didn't re-start after the goal."
The referee was a qualified official.
"To be fair, I thought the refere did an okay job for the majority the game,'' Claridge said.
"I wouldn't asert that he cheated. I think he got caught up in the excitement of the game and he was enjoying it too much. He had the power to let it go and kept going with it."
Shepparton United president Mark Georgiou said he had not timed the injury time period and couldn't be sure it lasted 13 minutes.
"It's outside of our control... the official in the middle makes the call,'' Georgiou said.
"People will feel aggrieved at a certain point and results determine that as well.
"It was factors outside of our control. If the club (Golden City) has an issue with how much extra time was played there's league processes in place they can go through."
Claridge said Golden City would consider its options this week.
"I'll be chatting to the club about what we can do,'' he said.
"I don't know if we have any avenues for appeal, but we'll have a chat about it."
The questionable length of injury time overshadowed one of the best games of the season.
Shepparton United opened the scoring inside seven minutes through Ermal Marku.
Golden City's young squad responded strongly and took control through the middle of the park.
English import Abdirizak Hussein was particularly damaging and his good work was rewarded when he found the back of the net just before half-time.
City's cause wasn't helped early in the second half when Hussein left the pitch with an ankle injury.
Shepparton United stretched the City defence on the break, but the Rams' defence held firm.
The game looked headed for a draw until Rams' susbstitute Hser Ka Bru Htoo found space in the 82nd minute and scored.
The Rams were on the verge of victory until Peacock's red card was followed by Ardit Gavri's two goals in injury time.
"I was super proud of the effort, but gutted by the result,'' Claridge said.
"We feel as though we were on the verge of making a statement. We've been through some tough times, but we are on the verge of arriving as a competitive force and then you lose a game like that.
"It's frustrating."
The result left Golden City in fifth place on the ladder with seven points.
Shepparton United is equal with City on points, but has one game in hand.
Eaglehawk remains on top the ladder despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Tatura.
The Borough looked like dropping all three points when the home side jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Borough coach Greg Thomas scored his fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to give his side a lifeline before Brent Hamblin levelled things up in the 77th minute.
Eaglehawk's lead at the top of the championship table is now just two points.
Strathdale, which has two games in hand on Eaglehawk, made it four wins from four games when it thumped La Trobe University 11-0.
The Blues have scored 13, 12 and 11 goals in their past three matches.
Striker Daniel Purdy scored a hat-trick and now has 16 goals for the season, while Jackson Clayton also scored three times.
Matt Gallagher (two) and Ethan Hunter found the back of the net and there were two own goals.
Moama-Echuca Border Raiders moved into third place on the back of a 3-2 victory over Shepparton South.
An Adam Brady brace and a goal from Cooper Arkinstall gave the Raiders a 3-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Shepparton South fought back to score in the 72nd minute and again in the fifth minute of injury time, but the Raiders proved too strong.
Epsom, Colts United and Shepparton had the bye.
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