Bushrangers halfback Carl Johnson slotted a penalty goal with just seconds remaining to lift his team to a 20-19 triumph and end a six-game losing streak.

Just a minute earlier Goulburn thought it had won the game when winger Tim Turner nailed a field goal from 30 metres out to give his side a one-point lead.

But the Bushrangers stole possession after a short kick-off and were awarded a penalty when Johnson was taken out while chasing a grubber kick.

The win ended a month of pain for the Bushrangers, who are languishing at second last on the ladder.

Injured coach Jarrod Teka ''almost cried'' when the Bushrangers fell behind by one point and was adamant Turner's shot ''missed by two metres''.

Teka couldn't watch as his young halfback - in just his third first grade match - lined up his shot from 10m out.

''I was gutted, from where we were standing we thought the field goal missed so maybe it was a bit of justice in the end,'' Teka said.

''The game had everything emotion wise. I dead set almost cried when they awarded the field goal.

''I went from shattered to a glimmer of hope when we got the ball and then my heart just stopped when we got the penalty, I couldn't watch with the game in the young fella's hands.''

Prior to the match, the Bushrangers hadn't won a game since beating the last-placed West Belconnen Warriors in the second round of the season. But they lifted for their clash with Goulburn and established an early lead.

The teams then traded tries for the rest of the match with both having perfect opportunities to cement the result.

However, it came down to a controversial 90 seconds with the score locked at 18-all.

The Bushrangers were eager to get to their attacking half, but they dropped the ball and gave the Bulldogs an opportunity to steal the result. Turner calmly slotted the field goal, but that's when Goulburn coach James Aubusson said his team switched off.

While Teka thought the field goal missed, Aubusson was confident it went over. In the end it didn't matter because the Bushrangers raced to the other end with rookie Johnson showing nerves of steel.

''I think we played some pretty dumb footy, the game was there for us to win,'' Aubusson said.

''We just lacked some football ability, we didn't lack anything in toughness but we made dumb decisions and it cost us the game. Our boys thought that was it when we kicked the field goal … it shouldn't have come down to that moment.'' .

TUGGERANONG BUSHRANGERS 20 (A High 2, T Joseph tries; S Lienesch 2, C Johnson 2 goals) bt GOULBURN BULLDOGS 19 (B Marmont, L Grey, N Aubusson tries; N Aubusson 2, T Turner goals; T Turner field goal).