By Lance Jenkinson
After a rampaging six straight wins to start the season, Werribee City could have been excused for feeling a little deflated after a 0-0 draw with North Geelong Warriors.
That was not the case for the Bees, who returned home from their NPL 2 west outing at Elcho Park on Saturday content with the point gained from one of the most exciting yet intimidating away venues in the competition.
Bees coach Sergio Sabbadini was impressed.
“It’s probably one of the toughest away venues to play,” he said.
“They get massive support there – they’re all singing and chanting throughout the whole game, which is great for the spectacle.
“I went over and congratulated the supporters after the game and said to keep it going.”
Werribee City’s first dropped points of the season did not hurt too much in the standings.
The Bees are still riding high on top of the ladder – three points clear of second-placed
St Albans Saints. But Sabbadini was disappointed to see the winning streak end after his side came so close to finding a winner.
“We had three gilt-edged chances in the second half,” he said.
“Their keeper got a fingertip to a couple of them and one of their defenders blocked one of the shots.
“We had some really good chances, but mind you, they had one really good one as well [saved by Bees goalkeeper Christian Rossi].”
Werribee City made a slight alteration to its line-up, strengthening the midfield.
The Bees’ mentality was still to be aggressive and chase three points.
“We changed our shape a bit, but we didn’t go out to defend,” Sabbadini said. “We tried to take the game up to them.”
The key to Werribee City’s clean sheet was Julyan Collett, who was impenetrable in the back third.
“He was the best man on the ground, for sure,” Sabbadini said. “He was our centre-half and nothing got past him.”
Shaun Hodor, in his first start for Werribee City, formed a solid partnership with Collett.
In central midfield, Brad Murray was the heartbeat of the Bees, guiding the side in an attacking sense and getting stuck in defensively.
Takanori Nishimoto and Tyler James were other Bees who refused to yield.
North Geelong put a lot of work into nullifying Jake Butler, the Bees’ Kiwi international – and it worked for a large part of the game.
“Every time Jake got the ball, they were right on to him,” Sabbadini said.
“He’s an international, so he knows how to deal with that sort of stuff.
“We made few tweaks in the second half and he came into his own more.”
Werribee City will feature under the Friday night lights away to Moreland Zebras this week.
Bees striker Alec Goodwin will have a fitness test late in the week to determine if he can take his place in the starting line-up.
Hoppers Crossing had a 2-2 draw with Moreland United in state league 2.
Point Cook had a 0-0 draw away to Western Eagles in state league 3.
Truganina Hornets pipped Golden Plains 1-0 in state league 4.
West Point claimed a 2-1 win away to Melton Phoenix in state league 5.
MORE NPL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/calder-united-in-goal-spree/
