In what was a rarity for Sandringham, not one Parton took to the playing surface for Sandringham in their heartbreaking loss to Heidelberg United.
With Christie, Stephanie and father/coach Shaun Parton all away, reserves coach Deb Nichols stepped up to fill the void for the reigning champions.
Her side seemed inspired by a set of new ideas as they put in one of their best performances of the year, but with the sending off of Emma Runnalls at the hour mark, they were forced to resort to a backs to the wall sort of game.
Nichols was complementary of her sides first half performance, but did feel the sending off played a part in the result.
“I think we dominated the first half. We won possession in the midfield, went in 1-1,” the temporary coach said.
“We let in a sloppy goal in the first half but once we went 2-1 up in the second, I thought we had the game.
“A moment of indiscipline with the red card and ten men for 35 minutes, that was it. That was the game changed that point there. Then to lose it in the 89th minute was a bit soul destroying to say the least.
“It’s probably the best we’ve played in a long, long time and they actually really worked themselves into a standstill but they were up against it once they went down to ten men.”
The other big decision made on the night was a penalty which gave the Bergers their equaliser, but the coach was of the belief that the right decision was made.
“It looked like a penalty from where I was so I couldn’t really dispute it. It was just more disappointing for them to get that one in the 89th minute.
“We rode our luck a little bit and it ran out right at the end and I think we deserved at least a point out of it.”
Looking at the positives of her side, she singled out praise for free scoring striker Nicola Westwood [née Prins], who’s return to the side has coincided with a turn in form for the club.
“I think she could’ve got more tonight. Obviously when we went down to the one up front, she got tired so I got Elisa [Gleadell] to take the load off,” Nichols said.
“It’s good, Prins has just come back; it’s her second game back from injury and she’s scoring again which has helped us.
“Her goals at the start of the season got us going and then we had that injury through the middle so it’s good to have her back and scoring. That’s the positive out of the night.”
Planning ahead for next weeks clash against the FFV U17 Girls, Nichols conceded the mental aspect will be the hardest part to prepare for after such a disappointing loss this round.
“Yes we’ve got to come back up on Saturday, get over the disappointment and get three points because now we’ve got ourselves out of the top five so at the moment, the way things are going, that fifth position is what we’re going to have to aim for because we’re dropping too far behind the top three.
“It’s going to be a test of character because they were bitterly, bitterly disappointed at the end of that game so we’ll have to regroup during the week and roll on Saturday against the FFV [U17 Girls].”