Desperate for a point

April 19 2014

Shepparton News

It might just be dawn for Melvyn Wilkes’ Goulburn Valley Suns, but he knows his side needs to have something to show from a run of five home games.

After their first four matches at McEwen Reserve, the Suns have zero points and Wilkes said that run could not be allowed to reach five games against Werribee City tonight.

‘‘It’s paramount for us to build on what we did last week. We can’t undo that good work from last weekend,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘We need to take some momentum from this game on our travels.’’

Ex-Werribee City players Frank and Rossi Lagana have been able to offer Wilkes some insight to the club’s make-up, but it is not something the Englishman is getting caught up on.

‘‘We know quite a bit about them, but again I’m not going overboard with what they can do. I want us to build on what we did (against Port Melbourne),’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘We had last week’s game video-taped though, and that second half was as good in periods as any (soccer) I’ve been involved in, so that gives me some very encouraging signs.’’

Josh Glover is back in contention and will replace Zac Paraskevas at left-back, allowing Nick Kalafatis and Naum Sekulovski to build on last week’s performance in centre defence, while Cody Sellwood retains his spot at right back.

The Suns will remain unchanged otherwise, with Wilkes looking forward to seeing the midfield axis of Daniel Chaabani and Frankie Lagana in action once again.

‘‘They have a reasonable understanding and they both put a foot in,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘When the ball is in their playing space they both have the ability to play the attackers like (Kristian) Sarkies, (Ben) Clarke and Stipo (Andrijasevic).

‘‘We’ve seen Sarkies play two or three beautiful balls into Craig (Carley), and the goal we scored from open play was very encouraging.’’

However, Wilkes called for greater composure in front of goal and said he hoped Carley’s well-taken effort — a lovely one-touch dink over the on-rushing keeper — last week will ease the nerves in front of goal.

‘‘The only thing that needs to change if we play the type of (soccer) we played in that second half is that we need to be more clinical,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘We’ve panicked in that final third at times and in front of goal where we need to be a bit more composed.

‘‘We saw that with Craig’s goal, so hopefully that can continue.’’