LEAGUE title hopes for the Savoy women took a mighty blow on Sunday, suffering just their second loss of the season.

Ladder leaders Wodonga Heart proved a class above at Savoy Park taking out the top of the table battle 2-1 and going three points and goal difference ahead of the Savoys on the table with just three rounds to play.

Amber Howell’s goal off a keeper blunder was out-matched by a brace from Heart striker Lilly Brown to continue her rich run of form, scoring in four of her past five matches.

Savoys coach Gabby Paglia said conversion in front of goal let the team down.

“The end of the first half we were really getting on top, but we couldn’t take our chances,” she said.

“It was definitely a different game to the first time we played them, they seemed a lot more in control and there were a few players I didn’t recognise from last time.

“We went into the second half fired up hoping to catch them off-guard, we had the speed against them, we had the passing going, but it didn’t turn out which was a bit unfortunate.

“I think it was quite congested in front of goal and a bit of panic set in as well.”

The Savoys have entered a rare dry spell on their season with just the one win in their past four matches and face another challenging prospect against fourth placed Wodonga Diamonds this Sunday at home.

Paglia said with the team now a slim chance to end on top and take out the league tile, the focus has shifted to preparation for finals as they play their last regular season match.

“Taking that second place has really settled in with the girls and I think we’re going to be striving even harder,” she said.

“We’re going back to how we were at the start of the year with training sessions… it’s more about getting some goals on the scoreboard and firing ourselves up again in attack.

“You can tell at training how the weekend is going to go, the week before Wang was a bit here, there and everywhere whereas the last week it was starting to fire up again so hopefully this week is the week we get back on top.”

In a stroke of fortune, Myrtleford were able to hold onto second place due to an upset loss for the Albury Hotspurs and remain one point behind the Savoys in third.

OTHER SAVOY TEAM RESULTS

Division 2 Men: Myrtleford 0 def by Wodonga Heart 7.

Division 3 Men: Myrtleford 4 def Wodonga Heart 0.

Over 35: BYE.

U17 Girls: BYE.

U16 Boys: Myrtleford 0 def by Wodonga Heart 3.

U14 Boys: Myrtleford 1 def by Wodonga Heart 2.

U13 Boys: Myrtleford 1 def by Wodonga Heart 2.

U12 Boys: Myrtleford 2 def by Wodonga Heart 3.