Goulburn Valley Suns have reached a line-in-the-sand moment.
Following Saturday night’s 1-0 loss to Altona City, the Orangemen have just one point to their name from three home matches to start the Victorian Premier League Two season.
What’s more worrying is the Suns have only scored one goal in 270 minutes of football and, despite holding the league’s second-best defensive record, Craig Carley’s charges remain rooted in 10th, with a muzzled attack the root of the cause.
The defeat to Altona City was no different.
After weathering an early storm by the visitor, the Suns’ first clear-cut chance arrived just after the half-hour mark as City’s goalkeeper smartly saved Callum Schorah’s free-kick.
Then, in the moments before half-time Justin Reischer was handed a gilt-edged opportunity to grab the ascendancy for his side.
A City defender passed the ball directly to Reischer’s feet, the Suns striker barrelling through on goal and curling a ball that pinged off the post and out for a goal kick.
Both sides continued to trade blows during the second half, but as has been the trend, the Suns were left ruing earlier misses.
City steamed into the lead in the 69th minute through a well-taken chance as midfielder Jayson Ziro found himself in a pocket of space at the back post.
Ziro was City’s hero as he spun and shot past Suns goalie Niki Kitabatake to hand the travellers a precious buffer.
Not long later, injury was literally added to insult for the hosts.
Suns winger Sean Grant was left in a crumpled heap after a strong tackle and was stretchered off the field with a hyperextended knee.
One positive to emerge from the misfortune was the senior debut of teenager Laywi Niyonkuru, who made an instant impact with a towering header that crashed off the crossbar.
His 15-minute cameo was one of few takeaways for the Suns, with a fortnight until the next game providing some much-needed reflection time for Carley’s boys.
The Suns return to action on April 6 when welcoming Boroondara-Carey Eagles to McEwen Reserve.