In complete control at 3-1 with five minutes left in regular time, Murray conceded a penalty, had a player red carded and leaked another goal in stoppage time to leave with only a point.

Murray started the game on the back foot after conceding two minutes in, but were back on level terms in the 17^th minute when Tom Youngs converted from the penalty spot.

The visitors edged in front 10 minutes later when Lewis Greenwood finished following a scramble in the box from a corner.

Murray maintained its 2-1 advantage at the break and were in complete control after 58 minutes when Aaron Midon made it 3-1 with a brilliant volley from the top of the box.

Time was running out for Springvale and the game was slipping from their grasp when Murray had another shout for a penalty in the dying stages, but it was waved off by the referee.

Two minutes later Springvale's luck turned when they were controversially awarded a penalty, which they converted to make it 3-2 with five to play.

Murray goalkeeper Jack Mwala was sent off in the wake of the penalty decision, forcing Ryan Luty to put on the gloves.

Springvale equalised in the first added minute and held on for a draw after Youngs and Jordan Hore were both unable to finish one-on-one chances.

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Murray coach Elliot Jones admitted the last 10 minutes was a blur.

"We were cruising, playing well and having plenty of chances," Jones said.

"We were looking really comfortable and then had a penalty disallowed, everyone at the ground thought it was a penalty and the referee didn't call it.

"About two minutes later they went down the other end and we had a penalty given against us that nobody thought was a penalty.

"It took everyone a while to cool down because of that fact, they scored and I'm not sure what happened but all the players gathered around and there was some push and shove and our goalkeeper was sent.

"Credit to them, they found a way to score late, but at 3-3 we had two one-on-one chances with goalkeeper to win the game and we weren't able to put them away.

"We walk away with a point in what was an incredibly frustrating afternoon.

"For the neutral, it would been a fantastic game, but the Springvale coach and myself finished the game and didn't really know what to say."

The contest was eerily similar to the previous meeting between the two sides in round seven, where a Murray player was also sent off in the second half, but the home side escaped with a 2-1 win on that ocassion.

"Sometimes you're on the right side of the luck and other times you have a day like today," Jones added.

"We were all stunned at the end of the game, to be honest.

"We went behind early, but rallied and got back on top.

"Everyone thought we were cruising, but one action can send the last 10 minutes into a bit of a spiral."

The ladder after round 23 is: Eastern Lions 49, Bulleen 41*, Northcote City 38*, Langwarrin 35, GV Suns 32, Manningham United 32, Melbourne City 23*, Murray United 21, Box Hill United 19, Springvale 18*.

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