The Tigers started with blistering pace forcing the Lions onto the back foot from kick off with good chances to score falling to Dylan Webber, Brett Webber and Paul Auriac inside the first 10 minutes.

Lansdowne were reduced to counter-attacking only unable to maintain possession under pressure and rarely getting out of their own half.

Tom Riley was causing the Lions all sorts of trouble down the flanks and narrowly missed with a fine effort of his own from some distance.

It seemed only a matter of time before the scoring would start but on the stroke of half time it was the Lions who found themselves in front.

A miscued Tigers free kick found the feet of the Lion’s Matt Allport who bulldozed his way into the box.

After seeing his initial effort, seemingly smothered by Tigers keeper Dean Bensch was the beneficiary of the slippery conditions as the ball squirted out of Bensch’s grasp and into Allport’s path. He made no mistake with Lansdowne’s only real shot of the game.

The Lions then dug in deep to defend their lead in the second half as the Tigers hammered them for a full 40 minutes through the second half.

Great chances came and went to Nick Chapman, Kurt Higman, Riley and Brett Webber, twice with the goal seemingly open but the ball either drifting wide over the crossbar or straight at the keeper.

Finally, as Jake Camilleri was hacked down in the penalty area it seemed the Tigers would square the ledger when Brett Webber stepped up to take the resultant spot kick.

Unfortunately, Webber’s shot crashed into the crossbar and out to safety for the Lions.

For the remainder of the match, the Tigers simply could not score leaving the Lions very fortunate winners 1 goal to nil.

Riley was the Tiger’s best with excellent efforts from Auriac, Camilleri, Christensen and Youngberry.

The whole team worked tirelessly but came home empty handed.

Coach Peter Ragno said despite the loss, he was happy how his team played. 

“I thought we stuck to our game plan well, we played some great football and we created plenty of chances to score, but had nothing to show for it. Then we got punished for one simple mistake,” he said.

“Still, a top four finish this season is very good considering this is a very new team with some very young players.

“The boys now just have to regroup, continue to train hard for the promotion game in four weeks and back our club mates in next weekend’s preliminary final.”

This Saturday sees the TFFC Tigers Black go head to head with the Green Point Rovers for a place in the grand final. The winner of the Pacific Palms versus Lansdowne Lions will take the other place.