Goulburn Valley Suns have tossed away a prime chance to move into second spot on the National Premier League Three ladder, losing to cellar dweller Ballarat City at McEwen Reserve.
In fact, it was the visitor’s first win of the season ― and Suns coach Craig Carley rightly had few pleasantries reserved for his side’s performance in the wake of a 3-2 loss.
“We had some bad times last year, but it was probably the worst game I’ve coached in at the club to be honest,” Carley said.
“We didn’t really show up; I think it was one of those games where we thought it was going to happen and players just weren’t accountable on the day which for me, is not good enough.
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Ping: GV Suns’ Jake Brocklebank. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 8
Pushing up: GV Suns’ Willie Sauiluma. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 8
Twist and turn: GV Suns’ Taku Hishida. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 8
Twinkle toes: GV Suns’ Russell Currie. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 8
Shrug him off: GV Suns’ Matthew Lelliott. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 8
Zoned in: GV Suns’ Brandon Giaccherini. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 8
On the prowl: GV Suns’ Russell Currie. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 8
Arch the neck: GV Suns’ Jake Brocklebank. Photo by Megan Fisher“The goals we conceded were all poor goals, and that’s the nature of the competition, regardless of whether you’re playing the top team or the bottom team.
“If you don’t come and set your standards then teams will punish you and fair play to Ballarat, that’s exactly what they’ve done to us on Saturday.”
Heading into the match, a fourth-placed Suns side would’ve relished the thought of a home win ― the most recent arriving last month ― and what better chance than against a Ballarat side with two points to its name.
However, City had other ideas.
Kenta Futami sent the traveller into the sheds 1-0 ahead thanks to a goal late in the first half, but Suns emerged from the rooms at a rate of knots as striker Russell Currie rippled the net to restore parity three minutes in.
Five minutes later Futami capitalised on a sloppy piece of defending and Marc Anticev made it 3-1 to Ballarat with 15 to play, with a dreaded panic setting in.
Young substitutes Marcus Thomas and Declan Kinnane combined in the 85th minute as the latter pegged one back for the Suns, but there was to be no late comeback for Carley’s men.
The occasion was perhaps slightly soured for stalwart defender Greg Nash, who was presented with a plaque post-match for becoming the first player to reach 150 appearances in a Suns shirt.
Nash, known affectionately as ‘‘Kiwi’’, has been a staple at the back for the side since 2015 ― bar a season at Shepparton South last year ― and Carley was sure to hand the 35-year-old his flowers in regards to his unrelenting work rate and service to the badge.
“He’s just a dream to coach, he’s one of the best people I know as a person, not only as a footballer,” he said.
“He epitomises everything that we do in terms of standards; he’s the hardest working player, he’s an example for everyone, he’s never a problem.
“I wish at times I had 11 ‘Kiwis’ in my team because we’d certainly win a lot more games than we’d lose.
“I was rapt to get him back to the club this year and I put some our success down to getting guys like Kiwi back because he’s just phenomenal on and off the pitch.
“He’s an absolute champion of a bloke and hopefully we can keep him for a couple more seasons to be honest.”