And that's how it looked for the Casey Scorpions, as they trailed by five points close to the 37-minute mark of the last quarter against North Ballarat.
The timekeeper's finger must surely have been poised on the button to sound the final siren when Rooster defender Brad McKenzie played on from deep in defence.
He didn't count on the speed of Sam Blease who managed to lay the tackle and earn a free kick. The redhead quickly took off and booted a magnificent goal from the boundary with seconds to spare, giving Casey its fourth win by a goal or less in its five games to date.
North Ballarat had opened the game strongly kicking with the aid of a strong breeze.
The Roosters scored the opening goal and maintained control throughout the first term, although they would rue some missed chances in front of goal.
A long goal after the siren from outside 50 metres had them chock full of confidence with a four goal lead at the first break.
It was imperative for the Scorpions to fight back hard and they did so with two goals within the first five minutes of the second term.
With Jamie Bennell in full flight and co-skipper Evan Panozza playing one of his best games for the club, Casey scrapped its way back into the game.
By half time, scores were level.
Casey coach Brett Lovett knew that his team could not afford to allow North Ballarat to draw away with the wind again and his team applied the pressure as the game turned into a dour struggle.
It was goal for goal early on with Michael Riseley and Wade Lees scoring from frees, before the Roosters scrambled their way to a six-point lead at three quarter-time.
What followed was an amazing final quarter of football with exciting football and unexpected momentum shifts as first one team, then the other gained what appeared to be the ascendency.
Goals to Bennell and Jack Fitzpatrick put Casey in front by a goal, but with Todd Goldstein taking control in the ruck over a tiring Jake Spencer, the Roosters fought back.
After some nail biting minutes, in which the game seemed in the balance, it was North Ballarat that broke through with two goals and the visitors appeared to have it in the bag.
As they thwarted Casey's efforts, the minutes ticked by.
Goals to Rian McGough and Tom Couch restored the Scorpions hopes but when Goldstein marked in the goal square and kicked truly, the game looked over.
And still the seconds passed. Casey went forward and Blease kicked his third goal, three seconds before the siren blared.
It was all over and another heartstopping Casey victory.
Casey Scorpions - 15.11.101
North Ballarat - 14.16 100
Goals
Casey Scorpions Blease Riseley 3 Smith 2 Bennell Couch Fitzpatrick Lees McGough Petterd Petropoulos
North Ballarat Driscoll Micallef 3 George Goldstein 2 Black Mabon Sewell Towers
Best
Casey Scorpions Panozza Bennell Blease Lees Petterd Sheahan
North Ballarat Searl Goldstein Delaney Sewell George Campbell
2012 AFL VIC DEVELOP MENT LEAGUE
Casey Scorpions - 15.16.106
North Ballarat - 10.7.67
Goals
Casey Scorpions Cook 5 McInnes Patti Weekes 2 Cleven Dearaugo McGillivray-Smith Page
North Ballarat Austin Prato 2 Austin Conroy Hughes Graham Grigg Semmens Warren
Best
Casey Scorpions Patti Pollard Gent Cook Lindsay Cleven
North Ballarat Mather Hughes Austin Barry Jones Struth
