Anzac weekend football provided a game of missed opportunities for Evolution Painting & Decorating Wanganui City as they went down 3-0 to Palmerston North Boys' High School in the Lotto Federation League on Saturday.
The school grounds at Palmerston North Boys' High appeared to be better maintained for a rugbymatch, with the grass still long and rough, adding an extra challenge to a team who are aiming to play an attacking and fast-paced game.
A slow start proved costly for the City boys as they struggled to find fluidity against the youthful and well-drilled PNBHS squad, who were riding high after their previous week's 2-1 victory over Red Sox.
Three easy goals were conceded in the first stanza, putting in place a massive task for City to have to overcome if they were to steal three points on the road.
A half-time serve from manager Bryan Mackie proved to be well needed for the team, as they emerged into the second half with a far better mentality than the first, preventing PNBHS from breaching the goal-line any further during the second 45 minutes.
Mackie felt that, while the opposition played well, some poor officiating did not help them throughout the 90-minute encounter.
"It was a tough match and, while we didn't take the opportunities that were presented to us, we felt the referee was not up to the task. It was like we were playing against 12 players out there."
Mackie was quick to praise the young players who stepped up for the first team on Saturday and put in good shifts.
"Leo [Silvagni] had a solid game in goal. He didn't do much wrong, he was just put under pressure by the defence in front of him."
"Max Davidson got on the pitch and did what I asked of him.
"He made some good runs and controlled the ball well.
"I would say he was probably my player of the match"
It still seems that Wanganui City are struggling with the new formation coach Kelvin Francis is trying to implement, with a few spoken to hoping to convince the coach to return to a more comfortable 4-2-2 formation for the coming week's match.
It was a confident group of players who still held the belief they could resurrect their season next weekend against Red Sox, with the prediction they would be able to take the victory by at least four goals.
Whatever it takes, City will need to look long and hard at what's happening on the pitch during the week if they are to get their season under way, as they currently sit 9 points adrift of the leaders.
