Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown lamented his team’s inability to convert chances after they crashed at home in losing 3-0 to Apia Leichardt Tigers last night.
Brown said the match was a timely reminder of the importance of taking your chances – particularly heading into the cut-throat world of finals football.
“I think the second half we were really outmuscled. Credit to APIA, they’ve come out to play,” Brown said.
“In the first half we struggled with the final third, the final ball. We pretty much dominated that half, apart from an early goal, but the final pass was never good enough.
“It’s always concerning to lose, even more so when it’s at home and 3-0, but we just need to sort ourselves out … but the guys didn’t stop trying and even at 3-0 down they were trying hard.”
A goal after just three minutes into the match, then two in the space of two minutes early in the second half and the visitors were always going to take the three premiership points with them.
The battle between second and third in the PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 penultimate round offered a glimpse of the finals series to come.
The Tigers were convincing winners, but on another occasion the scoreline could easily have been reversed, such was the visitors’ ruthlessness and the home side’s wastefulness in front of goals.
The White Eagles looked threatening from set pieces and despite some good deliveries from Diaz – who was playing his 100th game for the club – no one could get on the end to score.
And when they did, the APIA defence was well up to the challenge.
The two teams headed into the break with the score 1-0, but the Tigers did not waste any time building on that lead in the second half.
With the second half less than 10 minutes old, they scored two goals to take their lead to 3-0.
The game rolled along to full-time without many chances of not for either side.
