A “resilient” Goulburn Valley Suns have picked up their first point of the NPL Two Victoria season, battling out a nil-all draw against Manningham United Blues on Saturday.
The Suns started the game on the front foot, with some positive attacks and good possession play, however, a controversial 28th minute red card to Brandon Giaccherini changed the game.
Once down to 10 men, the Suns were forced to weather the Manningham storm, with the visitors having an extra man to push up the field.
Despite these challenges, neither side found the back of the net, with the points split to start the season.
Suns coach Craig Carley, who was forced to view the game online due to isolation requirements, said he was not disappointed in coming away with a point.
“I thought the boys were excellent, if I’m honest, I thought everyone worked very hard in their defensive shape,” Carley said.
“In games gone past, in previous years, that would have been a game where we came away with nothing, but the boys dug in and played really well in my opinion, considering we went down to 10 men so early.”
Giaccherini’s red card was a turning point in the game and certainly a controversial decision.
Initially given a yellow card from the central referee for his foul on the visitors’ goalkeeper, this decision turned to a red card soon after, with the assistant referee stepping in.
“It’s really disappointing that the decision has gone against us,” Carley said.
“It is certainly a decision that we’ll look to review and it’s just disappointing for young Brandon, he’s been on fire this pre-season and he’s looked like our most dangerous player and to receive a red card like that, I thought the keeper made a meal out of it if I’m honest.”
Despite the setback, Carley said he was proud of how the team defended for the majority of the game,and would take plenty out of the clash into this weekend’s contest.
“I honestly feel with 11 men on the pitch we would have come away with the three points,” he said.
“We need to get a result next round now against Werribee to turn Saturday’s result into a positive result, we’ll take four points from the first two games.
“It’s a very tight league as results have shown this week, everyone’s strengthened, everyone’s improved, so its going to be very tight.”
The draw has the Suns in seventh place after round one, with four draws across the league making for an interesting start to the season.