Bees sting is more pain

April 21 2014

Shepparton News

Different kit, different change room and a different bench, but it was the same old problems for Goulburn Valley Suns at McEwen Reserve on Saturday night.

Decked out in blue instead of their trademark orange, the Suns went down to visiting Werribee City 4-3 — their fifth straight loss to start the inaugural National Premier Leagues season.

Once again the damage was done before half-time.

Sloppy play at the back and calamitous set piece defending saw the Suns trail 4-1 at the break and a second half revival ultimately fell short.

After a cagey start, the Bees broke the deadlock through Anthony Ragusa, 15 minutes in.

Suns defender Naum Sekulovski missed Daniel Chaabani with a simple pass inside, Ragusa pinched the loose ball and slipped it to Zois Galanopoulos, whose shot was deflected back into Ragusa’s path and he made no mistake.

The Suns responded almost immediately, with Ben Clarke put through and the ball bundled home by Bees defender Steven Cudrig, who was credited with the own goal.

Craig Carley was thwarted moments later, but Werribee City took control of the game and struck three times in the final 20 minutes of the half.

Galanopoulos headed home from a corner, Ryan Filipovic pounced on a loose ball from a throw in to double the advantage and Oliver Rowland made it four with a fizzing drive that cannoned in off the upright.

The Suns were handed a lifeline early in the second half, when Cudrig’s overhit back pass drew a loose touch from Bees goalkeeper Tommy Dunn and allowed Carley to swoop.

Carley’s fifth goal in as many matches was just reward for his work-rate and desire, but his withdrawal a short time later allowed the Suns greater control in the final third.

Stipo Andrijasevic was moved up front and his hold up play enabled substitute Hernan Espindola and marauding full-back Cody Sellwood opportunities to get in behind.

If there was an award for penalties won, Clarke and the Suns would be leading the race and they got more joy from the spot on Saturday night.

Dunn was penalised for impeding Clarke and Kristian Sarkies stepped up to make it 4-3.

The Suns pressed for a share of the spoils, but the equaliser never came, with Sarkies’ powerful goal-bound strike blocked late on.

Skill errors, slack marking and poor tracking were at fault for each of the goals, but Suns coach Melvyn Wilkes said it was symptomatic of a lax start and recent results.

‘‘I don’t know whether it’s because it’s a new team, but it seems to take us that 45 minutes to get going,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘In any game you concede four goals the game is done at half-time.

‘‘The players know where the mistakes lie, because they’re the ones where it will be difficult to put your head down on the pillow in the evening and get to sleep.

‘‘We’ve conceded from free kicks and corners, so there’s an anxiety we’ll do it again, but credit to the boys, we did get into them at half-time and second half we defended much better and looked a different team.’’

The five losses have all come at home and Wilkes said next week’s road trip to Green Gully offered a badly-needed break from McEwen Reserve, after Saturday night’s admittedly superstitious changes failed to achieve the desired result.

‘‘We’re trying to do anything just to break the cycle,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘Just being on road for two or three hours together can only help us.’’