Young needed to win and hope Cootamundra lost to have any chance of getting into the top four, but the Lions never seemed to get out of second gear in what coach Mark Mellish described as “not the best game of the season”.

A solitary goal just after halftime separated the two sides, but it all became academic as news filtered in throughout the game of Cootamundra giving their opponents Lake Albert a footballing lesson with the game ending 6-nil. 

“It probably wasn’t the best way to finish our season in front of our home fans,” Mellish said. 

“We seemed to have no intensity in trying to get an early goal and, while we played some good passing football, we once again lacked that clinical finishing in front of goal.

“As we heard that Coota were on top in their game we basically took one eye off the scoreline and concentrated on finishing the game without any injuries or suspensions which thankfully we could do.”

When pressed on the failure of the Lions to make the top four, Mellish was not afraid to defend his players that put in all season. 

“At the start of the season I had no doubt that we were a top four side and the early results showed this – we would be playing at 85-90 per cent of our ability and we would put teams to the sword,” Mellish said. 

“Unfortunately, we lost four players with knee injuries for various parts of the season, plus three players were not able to commit each week due to changing work circumstances – we tried as best we could with the replacements but with only one side in the competition we didn’t have the depth of some of the Wagga clubs. 

“In saying that, I am very proud of how my guys turned up each week and tried to get over the line, some playing in new positions and giving it their all. 

“When you look back on the season we only finished 1.5 wins out of the top four, so who knows what might have happen if we retained most of our starting players – that’s the most frustrating part.” 

Finishing sixth means the Lions will now compete in the Pascoe Plate finals with their first match up against Tolland FC and a grand final berth awaiting the winner. 

“A couple of people have told me that the Plate finals don’t mean much, but it’s another trophy that we can add to our cabinet if we are successful,” Mellish said. 

“I have basically told my guys to go out and enjoy themselves and get back to playing the attractive football I know they can. 

“Tolland are a handy side and, while we haven’t scored a goal against them in our two previous meetings, finals football does throw the form  guide out the window – they no doubt will be confident but I expect our guys would like a week off and go straight into the grand final.”

 Kickoff is at 3pm on Sunday at Rawlings 3, Wagga.