WILLIAMSTOWN is crying out for a goal poacher after throwing away three points in a 2-0 loss to Avondale Heights in Football Federation Victoria’s men’s state league 3 north-west on Saturday.
The Blues were dominant in all categories except the one that counts: the scoreboard.
They conceded two goals in the opening 20 minutes and for all their pressure over the last 70 minutes did not have a goal to show at the full-time whistle.
Blues captain Nick Darbyshire said it was a game that got away.
“We probably lost it, rather than them winning it. We had the majority of the ball and just didn’t create anything in the last third.
“We made a few mistakes which were costly and the ‘keeper made a mistake to let in an easy goal.”
The Blues could have a cure for their goalscoring woes in the coming weeks.
Michael Curcija, one of the star strikers in the old National Soccer League, is starting to regain fitness after an injury-hit preseason. He came on as a sub late in the game but had no impact.
Last year’s club-leading goalscorer Brad Cashion is also on the comeback trail from injury and could play as soon as Saturday’s crucial game with Sydenham Park away at Keilor Lodge Reserve.
“We’re lacking in that striking area a little bit at the minute,” Darbyshire said. “It’s hurting us. Our defence was good again, midfield again was good, but we couldn’t penetrate in the front third.”
Mark Burton’s class shone through again in central midfield for the Blues and Misko Ceh had a big impact on the right wing.
Burton, a one-time Werder Bremen player and New Zealand international, pulled the strings in the middle but was too often left with no option but to play sideways without a threatening front man.
“We just didn’t have that striker on the end to be able to put one
of his passes away,” Darbyshire said.
Meanwhile, Altona City has sounded a warning over the opening month of the women’s state league 1 season about its intentions of an immediate return to the top-flight premier league.
City is sitting pretty with four wins from four starts and a goal difference of +11.
It hammered Melbourne University 3-0 at Princes Park on Sunday.
FFV RESULTS
State League 1: St Albans 1 Altona Magic 0
State League 2: Moreland City 4 Altona City 1, Altona East Phoenix 1 Fawkner Blues 0
State League 3: Avondale Heights 2 Williamstown 0, Yarraville 0 Hume United 0
Provisional League 1: Corio 5 Maribyrnong Greens 0
Provisional League 2: Laverton Park 0 Elwood City 1
Provisional League 3: Bundoora United 3 Melbourne City 3
Metropolitan League: Altona North 5 Heidelberg Eagles 0
Women’s state league 1: University of Melbourne 0 Altona City 3
