The facts are stark. The Cannons gave the bottom side on the ladder its first win, a result that made Oakleigh's position in the top six more problematic and made the task of chasing down leaders Green Gully and the Melbourne Knights harder.

When they met in the first game of the season, the Pines came back from 0-2 down to earn a draw, a fact that has not been lost on Munro.

"We have lost five points to the bottom side this season, it's something that has to be realised,'' he said yesterday

"Those points would have seen us challenging at the top of the ladder instead of being well down.''

The points would have been invaluable as Munro and his young charges face their toughest schedule of the season.

This week they do not play until 5pm on Sunday when they meet Heidelberg at the Olympic Village.

Then they have two more games in five days, meeting Preston in the rescheduled round seven game that was supposed to have been played in early April.

Munro was philosophical about the scheduling.

"It's something we have to accept. Overseas they have it much tougher. I have just been reading about Rangers in Scotland, they have played 68 games this season.''

The Cannons had their chances on a bitterly cold Friday night at Jack Edwards Reserve. Shots went wide and headers over the bar during a game that, said Munro, "was just one of those when nothing went our way''.

The Pines gave new coach Dougie Hodgson, the former Sheffield United player and long-time Foxtel Cup coach, something to smile about when they capitalised on confusion in the Cannons' defence to score the winner with 15 minutes left.

"The defenders and goalkeeper all thought each other was going for the ball, and the Pines player was able to step in,'' Munro said.

"Our defence has stood up well this year for most of the time. We have a really young squad, and this type of thing is going to happen. We have to move on from here and look to the game against Heidelberg.''