Playford quietly confident
by Lee Gagliardi

Photo courtesy of Chris Kelly Photography

 

 

Playford City coach Carl Maynard revealed his Patriots' side were quietly confident of knocking-off the Devine Premier League leader after their 1-0 Round 8 defeat of White City at Frank Mitchell Park on Saturday night.

Maynard admitted Playford had discussed the fixture and were confident they matched up well against White City who topped the table heading into the round.

The win lifted Playford off the foot of the table and saw White City drop to fourth.

"People won't believe this but the boys and I spoke about this a couple of weeks ago and we all felt that we could beat White City," he said.

"We all felt we would do well because of the way we set up. They're a very structured side and we all felt confident, we really did feel confident."

The Patriots' giant-killing win completed a stunning month for Playford, who after losing their opening four matches of the campaign, are now undefeated in as many starts.

Playford drew their last three fixtures before recording their maiden win against White City and Maynard conceded inexperience had been a contributing factor to his side's horror start.

"I think the first four games, inexperience has cost us," he said.

"It certainly did against Pirates and we were desperately unlucky against Noarlunga – we should never have lost it."

"I think the only game that I walked away and thought we were never in it was when we lost 3-1 against Adelaide Comets. Sometimes you're just going to get bad performances and that's what we got."

"After that, the tide just turned for us and we got the three draws."

Playford were thrashed 4-0 by Pirates but Maynard admitted Playford were again around the mark.

"When we played Pirates we were more than in the game apart from a 20-minute spell when they absolutely demolished us. If we look at every game we played we believe we should have got something out it," he said.

The Playford boss also acknowledged injuries had played a part in their horror start and said the return of key players had coincided with a stunning turn of form.

"The boys have got a lot of belief and we're actually quite happy that people have written us off because we'll just go about our business," he said.

"We've had injuries to key players and I know that happens to other teams, but as far as we're concerned it really hurts us when those players aren't available. We can't afford to be without so many of our so called better players."

"Over a period of time, those players have become available to us again and we also changed the way we play and that's coincided with stopping the rot."

Maynard heaped praise on Adrian Macolino, who stole the last-gasp winner against White City, saying the tenacious former Adelaide Galaxy player is enjoying an impressive debut season with Playford.

He said Macolino was outstanding in the victory, as was Damian Morrell.

"Macolino is a fantastic player and he just seems to get better and better as the season goes along," he said.

"Saturday he would have touched every blade of grass and all you need to do is speak to the people around Playford and the players and they just think the world of him."

"He really is playing well and apart from the fact he's a great lad as well, his honesty and integrity is outstanding."

"Damian Morrell, as well, who on Saturday was in my opinion, a cut above the rest. He was just class."