Knights boss John Adshead summed it up with a simple "we are gutted again".
So were the 1922 fans who turned up at a windswept North Harbour Stadium to watch the New Zealand Knights trip up again as they went down 3-2 to much-touted Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Led
by the Jeremy Christie/Jeremy Brockie double act, the Knights finally gave the faithful something to savour. Again, sadly, they came up short.
The Knights were given no hope against a Victory side desperate to snap a goal-less streak. In the end, the locals were worth a point but will have to wait until Thursday's away date with the Queensland Roar to get it.
If Adshead and the rest in the Knights head office needed convincing that there is some home-grown talent worth a second look, Brockie and Christie provided it.
The visitors reckoned they needed to simply turn up to cash in. When they were given a dubious 29th minute penalty call by referee Peter O'Leary, which captain Kevin Muscat duly converted, few doubted that.
But there was a much-needed resolve in the Knights camp which Christie, from a well-struck freekick, and Sean Devine from the spot, converted for a 2-1 40th-minute lead.
A goal out of nothing for Richard Kitzbichler just before the break saw the teams turn 2-2.
In being caught short by Kitzbichler again, the Knights were left contemplating what might have been.
The statistics underlined the Knights' competitiveness with the home side having a 21-16 advantage in scoring attempts and a 51 per cent sway in possession.
Maybe Adshead should have gone after All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny who marked his call-up by the Newcastle Jets to score the only goal of the match as they won away in Perth.
The points were shared in Gosford as Central Coast Mariners drew 2-2 with Queensland.
Leaders Adelaide United had a 3-2 win over Sydney FC last night which stretched United's lead to five points.
