"The effort made by all the players [was the most pleasing aspect of the match]," Caulfield said.

"I asked them to put 100 per cent effort in and everyone did, so I can't not be pleased when they come of and say "I did my best", because everyone did."

In a nailbiting game against a Wagga side ranked significantly higher on the ladder, the Southern Tablelands performed well.

In the end, Caulfield said the deciding factor in the game had been luck.

"We were just pipped at the post," he said.

"They did their best and it'll come. We didn't get the rub of the green, another day we'll get the rub of the green.

"Winning games against teams like this in this league, [the differences] are only minute fractions. Sometimes you don't get the rub of the green, we didn't get that today. Next week, maybe we will."

The Southern Tablelands side has been hit-and-miss so far in 2019, and currently sit second-last on the ladder with two wins and 11 losses.

However, to rebound as they did from an 11-0 thrashing at the hands of ANU the week prior is an excellent effort, particularly against the fifth-ranked Wagga team, who are vying for finals.

At half time, the score was 1-1 and the game was finely poised. However, bad luck struck the Southern Tablelands in the form of some inconsistent refereeing.

"I know I shouldn't blame officials, because they do a damned good job and a hard job, but they've got to be consistent," Caulfield said.

"We had a linesman here who overruled the referee who hadn't given a penalty originally. He was standing 60 yards away, the referee was five yards away.

"Then when he saw a foul that led to the third goal, he said it wasn't his side of the field."

Despite some disappointing officiating, Caulfield said his side needs to "forget about the result today and concentrate on putting exactly the same type of effort in next week."

This Sunday, August 4, Southern Tablelands United will take on Narrabundah FC in Narrabundah from 3pm.

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