WAGGA City Wanderers admit they have reached the last chance saloon after two penalties cost them dearly in a 2-0 National Premier League ACT loss to ANU in Canberra.
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The Wanderers had a chance to reduce the gap between them and third-placed ANU to four points with a win, but the hosts took full advantage of two clumsy tackles in the first half.
After a brutal draw the past month, the Wanderers now face the three teams below them on the table the next three weeks.
Coach Ross Morgan said they must take full advantage, or their finals hopes are over.
"If we are to be any chance of making it, we need nine points from our next three games," he said.
"We've just got to make the most of our home games, and hope for other results to help us out."
Missing a number of key players including Justin Curran, Prince Thompson, Caylum Barber, Andy Gamble and Nick Kennedy, a handful of under-20s players backed up in first grade.
Youngsters Luke Stevens and Frazer Burns were the standouts for the Wanderers, who simply must win their home clash with bottom side Brindabella next week to stay in contention.
"It wasn't the result we wanted, but it was a struggle with the numbers we had," attacker Jake Ploenges said.
"Both of the goals were penalties and we stuck to our defensive game plan. We played really well, just a couple of mistakes with some silly tackles.
"We had a couple of chances but that's been us the last four weeks, not being able to finish.
"It's going to make it tough (to make finals) but the next three weeks we've got the bottom three teams. Hopefully we can get nine points."
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