Round 4 Review
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
IT was another case of so near but yet so far for Bundaberg Toyota Spirit as they were sunk by a goal in injury-time to go down to Capricorn Cougars 1-0 in their Hyundai State league fourth round showdown in Gladstone on Saturday night.
The Spirit matched the hosts in all departments but their inability to convert their chances again came back to haunt them after looking to have at least a draw point in the bag until Justin McMullen struck like a thief in the night for the Cougars in the 91st minute.
Coach Richard Mitchell again lamented one that got away from them.
"Even after they scored we had another shot at goal but their goal-keeper saved it,'' Mitchell said.
"Theirs was a decent goal but to concede one that late in the game leaves you a bit gutted by it - to lose like that is always hard to take.
"They are not a bad side and they were definitely the better side in the second half, but I thought we were the better in the first half, and I thought we could have got away with a draw but it wasn't to be.
"We had a couple of chances in the first half, including a good header from Millsy (Mathew Mills), but we were under the cosh for a 15-20 minute period in the second half, but we weathered that, and after that I thought we might be able to go on and win, but although we created a couple more chances later on, at the end of the day, when the chances present themselves, they've got to be taken.''
Having conceded just four goals in as many matches, the Spirit's defence is obviously quite sound, but they have still got just one goal to their credit, and the bottom line is, they are still anchored to the base of the table and Mitchell admits they need to find a way to end the drought.
"A defeat is a defeat and we have got to get out of the mentality that a 1-0 or 2-1 defeat is all right - you don't get a point. Winning is like losing - it becomes a habit and you have got to break the cycle,'' he said.
The coach named centre-backs Lucas Read and Corey Haack as among their best.
"All worked hard but the back four were good, especially Lucas and Corey, but (Robert) Thatch(er) and Millsy were also quite solid, and we also competed quite well in the middle of the park but we have to do better up front.''
The Spirit will face an even tougher task when they return home to take on Brisbane Strikers this Saturday night, but Mitchell remains confident a win is not far away as long as they keep working hard at training and in their games.
"No team in this comp is not beatable, and we we will be back at training on Tuesday and hopefully getting our strike-force going - maybe we will change our shape a wee bit and it just might click,'' he said.
The Spirit's Youth side may have provided their senior counter-parts with a bit of inspiration when they blew Gold Coast off the park for their maiden win in Nerang on Sunday afternoon, romping home 4-1.
Coach Steve Bates said they took control, opening up a 2-0 half-time lead with a double to Brendan Davis, before really putting their stamp on the match with Michael Coleman and MItchell Broom also finding the back of the net.
The Coast hit back with a consolation goal with around five minutes to go, but it did not detract from a glorious Spirit victory.
"After playing so well last week against QAS and only losing due to bad luck, we knew if we played that style of football again, no-one was going to beat us,'' Bates said.
"This is the first win of the year for Bundaberg Spirit and there is a great feeling in the camp, and we spoke before the game about not playing for ourselves, but for our families, friends and staff who have got us where we are - it was time to pay back people who have supported us for so long, and we played with a lot of heart and soul.''
Bates said Brady Watts, of Hervey Bay, had a "great game in the backs''.
"Also Mitch Broom had another great game in the midfield, and Lukey Leggett was very strong up front,'' he said.
Bates said with a couple of State League players likely to be missing for their clash with the Strikers, several of his young guns had put up their hands for selection in the top squad, but he is hoping that any resultant absences from the Youth game will in part be compensated for with Ben Owen and Lynton Seary, who both missed the Coast game due to injuries, each eyeing a return to the field.
