A fightback of epic proportions has handed Goulburn Valley Suns their second win of the National Premier League Three season, braving burdensome Ballarat conditions to emerge 2-1 victors.
Substitute Elijah Brooker popped up with an 87th minute winner to secure the Suns maximum points, following Russell Currie’s equaliser not long before the hour mark.
With his side showing notable pluck to flip what could have been a disastrous third consecutive league loss, coach Craig Carley paid compliment to his charges for seeing off a tricky counterpart in Ballarat City.
“With respect to our players, they showed great resilience in the second half and really stuck to the plan, dug at it and got the two goals and came away with the win, so I’m really happy with that,” he said.
“We’re glad to get back onto the winners’ list, again we probably should have made it a lot more comfortable than what it was.
“(Ballarat) were a young, energetic side on a really big pitch which was hard to adjust to ― the conditions were shocking, I think it was about 12 degrees and pouring down with rain.”
Arriving off a three-hour journey, the Suns fought off a frosty reception from Mother Nature and began picking apart the hosts with expansive passing.
Chances came and went within the opening 15 minutes, but Ballarat drew first blood as the side broke from a Suns corner and earned a penalty which Yushiro Shiomi converted with aplomb.
Not reaching for the panic button, the Suns knuckled down and continued with their game plan – and sure enough, composure paid dividends following the break.
A vintage one-two from Brandon Giaccherini and Jamie England allowed the former space to cut the ball back from the byline, and waiting to pounce was Currie for his fifth of the season.
Carley’s tactical switch of changing Giaccherini’s angle of attack proved a smart one, as the youngster drove down the opposite wing with minutes left on the clock to set up Brooker who dampened Ballarat’s spirits ― including that of his older brother Isaac, who was playing for City on the night.
With a just reward arriving for holding the lion’s share of possession and shots on goal, Carley had no doubts as to whether trusting the process would bear the desired result.
“I knew we would certainly get plenty of chances in that second half, it’s just about being a little bit more patient and making better decisions around both boxes,” he said.
“We moved the ball from side to side, it was a really wide pitch, and in the end scored two really well-worked goals.
“I was really rapt for Russ (Currie) to continue his goal-scoring prowess and, obviously, for Elijah as well. He’s one of our young talents who has been around for a bit now and he works really hard and thoroughly deserved his goal.
“Fair play to him for coming on in the last few minutes and scoring the winner.”