The Goulburn Valley Suns snapped a four-game losing streak at the weekend, coming away from Bulleen Lions’ David Barro Stadium with what could prove a vital 1-1 draw.
Caretaker coach Lee Blackburn said a hard-fought stalemate against a top four outfit gave his side plenty to work with as the NPL2 season rapidly approaches its conclusion.
“It’s pleasing to get a point on the board, but more importantly the performance was good,” he said.
“What we spoke about last week in trying to make things happen seems to be making a difference, ideally if we keep performing the way we have been these performances will lead to results.”
Suns new boy Matthew Breeze backed up a superb debut last weekend to get on the score sheet again on Saturday, opening his side’s account in the 35th minute.
It was a lead his side held until three minutes into the second period, when Bulleen’s Max Batchelor brought his side level with his 11th goal of the campaign.
Blackburn injected the Suns’ latest recruit in Shepparton United goal-scoring machine Mohammed Al-Gazaly late into the game on Saturday, only for the exciting attacker to go down with injury just four minutes in to his return to the senior side.
Suns youth product Marcus Thomas was also gifted a debut late in the piece, accounting for himself well in his senior debut.
Blackburn said despite securing a point, the work was far from over.
The Suns have just six games remaining to claw themselves off the bottom of the NPL2 ladder and avoid a relegation play-off, and the Suns’ coach is well aware draws won’t cut the mustard.
“We’re not going to celebrate a point, we want to win and set up every game trying to win,” he said.
“It was pleasing in terms of performance against a very good Bulleen side.
“But we’re not going to get carried away, it’s a start and something to build on.”