Five weeks into the State League 1 soccer season, Altona East has established a reputation for being stingy around goals.
Phoenix has allowed just five forays forward to result in the ball cannoning into the back of the net.
That level of defensive pressure has helped lift the club to fifth on the ladder. While one part of his club’s game is firing, head coach Terry Antoniadis isn’t about to ease up on the opposition.
Antoniadis is plotting to take his team’s offense to another level.
“Defensively, things have been falling into place.
“We are very happy with our game; it is just the other end where we are having a bit of trouble in terms of creating and scoring goals.
‘‘I think the main reason for that is that a lot of the guys who play in those areas haven’t played together for long, and they are taking a little bit of time to
work out each other’s strengths.’’
After finishing last season with a
7-5-10 record in the State League 2 competition, Antoniadis admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect from the new state league format.
“It seems like it is going to be a very even competition,” Antoniadis said.
“From our point of view, it is probably about just feeling our way through it and seeing how we go.
This week, Altona East will take on second-placed Cairnlea at Paisley Park.
