The one that got away | Ipswich Soccer | Football in Ipswich

FROM the midway point of the first half to the 92nd minute, the Queensland Lions had the top of the table Ipswich Knights beaten.

Then, just as referee Matt Skinners was licking his lips ready to blow the whistle, a last minute desperate strike from Knights' Andy Korner from the edge of the box, robbed the Lions of a memorable victory.

The Brisbane Division 1 finals race heated up on Sunday as the arch rivals fought out a gruelling 1-all draw in cold, wet and miserable conditions at Luxury Paints Stadium in Richlands.

“I thought we were good under the conditions, we had a couple chances to score but thought we controlled the game for 90 minutes, but it went for 93 minutes,” distraught Lions coach, Greg Di Losa said.

“At no stage of the match I thought they (Knights) were going to score, but it was just one of those things.”

With the Knights the clear competition front-runners heading into the match, it was always going to be an evening of discovery for the fourth place Lions.

And the hosts surprised the favourites when they took the lead midway through the first period after workhorse midfielder and man-of-the-match, Adam O'Sullivan, beat two Knights defenders to slot the ball into the back of the net.

But it was only the heroics of Lions goalkeeper, Trent Rogers that made sure his team would go into the sheds with a clean sheet.

Despite having to cope with a greasy ball, Rogers made a handful of great stops, including a miraculous diving save, when he was all but beaten after the Knights tried to capitalise on some sloppy Lions ball movement at the back.

“Adam O'Sullivan was our man of the match, but Trent was also superb and unfortunately he couldn't do anything about the deflection,” said Di Losa, who was referring to the Knights' goal.

During the break, the first-half rain turned from drizzle to showers, and in the short time it took to grab a heavenly hot cuppa from the canteen, the grey clouds were blanketed by the dark night sky.

Conditions weren't ideal for attacking football, but the Lions were desperate to put the game out of the Knights' reach.

Goal scoring sensation, Antonio Invincible, and O'Sullivan continued to pepper the goals with ominous long range attempts, but for no reward.

As the Lions' started to tire, the Knights eventually controlled the share of possession and despite the best efforts of Rogers, who continued to bravely put his body on the line, the visitors grabbed the equaliser and broke the hearts of every Lions fan.

• In other results, the Brisbane Force bounced back from their loss to the Knights last week to defeat Slacks Creek 2-1 at CJ Greenfield Reserve, Richlands, on Saturday night.

The win puts the Force right back into finals contention with just one win seperating them from the top four.

In Division 2 action, the Western Spirit shared the points with Annerley after scores were locked 1-all after 90 minutes.