Aktas’ delighted as boys march on

Matthew Galea

April 21 2014

Shepparton News

Two wins — and two clean sheets — in a row has Goulburn Valley Suns under-20 coach Serkan Aktas delighted with his side’s progress.

Saturday night’s 1-0 win over Werribee City saw the Suns struggle to find the back of the net once more, but it was the rearguard action that ensured the home side took the points.

Matthew Gleeson was outstanding again, but the moment of the game was conjured up by Rossi Lagana when he beat the keeper from 23 m.

Receiving a bouncing ball, Lagana got his head up to spot the opposition keeper off his line and got his touch just right to send the ball over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net.

The Suns had a number of opportunities to double and the triple the lead, but continued to waste their opportunities.

Last week’s hat-trick hero Abdullah Wahidi was industrious, but it was Ramah Taya who found himself on the end of most of the Suns’ best pieces of play.

Cutting inside from the right wing, Taya left his opposing full-back with twisted blood on a number of occasions, twisting and turning out of trouble and using his blistering pace to leave defenders for dead.

Unfortunately, he just could not find the finishing touches to find the back of the net and grab the goal he richly deserved.

It’s not an uncommon problem in the under-20s, but Aktas insists his strikers have to remain positive.

‘‘Maybe it’s something we don’t practice enough, but we’re working on it,’’ Aktas said.

‘‘I think there’s a knack for scoring and you either have it or you don’t. Joey (Hogarty) seems to have it, because even though he doesn’t get many clear-cut opportunities, he puts them away.

‘‘Ramah on the other hand gets into those positions all day, but I can’t put my foot on why he doesn’t score.

‘‘The best thing you can do is just get them to keep their head up. You can’t get on top of them and make stupid comments. He’s waiting for that first goal and when it comes he’ll have that confidence.’’

The defensive work of his side was the real highlight for Aktas, even if Werribee’s switch to a direct game in the final minutes caused some nerves.