By David Nagel
Pakenham United continues to lose touch with the top teams in the Men’s State League 5 South competition after a 3-1 loss to top-of-the-table Barton United Lions on Saturday.
United was outplayed in the first 15 minutes of the contest, going down one-nil, but then matched motors with the Lions until a horrible mix up took the wind out of its sails early in the second half.
Zuhaib Faizi opened the scoring for Barton in the 14th minute before Sila Onye returned fire with an equaliser 10 minutes before half time.
United was back in the contest, but some poor defending saw Arif Askari slip through the centre-backs and put Barton ahead two-one at the break.
But given his teams’ ability to stay with the Lions in the first half, United coach Liam McCafferty made a change at the break that was intended to spice up the attacking side of the game in the second half.
“We went one-nil down; they had the first 10 to 15 minutes of play, but I thought we dominated the first half after that but then got caught ball watching five minutes before half time,” McCafferty said.
“At half time I was actually really calm, really happy with the performance and the application of the boys, but I think I paid them (Barton) too much respect with my tactics heading into the match.
“We decided to take things to them in the second half because they were no better than us.
“I made a change to provide a little bit more athleticism, but within two minutes we conceded an own goal and that took the wind out of our sails.
“All the spirit that we had disappeared immediately and the game just seemed to frizzle out from there.
“I refuse to make excuses, but all this luck that we’re not getting now I am really confident it will turn around in the second half of the season.”
Despite losing its last three, McCafferty is confident his side can turn things around.
“That’s three on the bounce we’ve lost, and that’s not good in any sport, but I think we’re showing signs that some good results are not that far away,” he said.
“I can just feel that it’s going to turn.”
Star-striker Sash Saric will provide a boost when he returns from suspension, in two weeks’ time, while several other regulars will make their return in the coming weeks.
“Look we lost on the weekend, and that’s the bottom line, but I don’t think anything is out of reach.
“Mentone, who was running away with the league three weeks ago, have lost two on the bounce and that’s just the way this competition can be sometimes.
“Let’s get our players back on the pitch, string some games together with those players…and I think you will see us finish the season off strongly.”
McCafferty praised the work of Danny Di Vito, who gave his all for his side.
“Danny Di Vito went off with a shoulder injury late in the game (78th minute), but he put in a shift and a half,” he said.
“He worked his socks off as a striker and no one worked harder than him on the pitch.
“He was tremendous on the weekend.”
Ninth-placed United can begin to rectify their current situation when it hosts sixth-placed Casey Panthers at 3pm at IYU Reserve this Saturday.
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE 5 SOUTH
RESULTS – ROUND 8
Barton United 3 v Pakenham United 1, Bunyip 4 v Mount Martha 1, White v Star Dandenong 5 v Rosebud 0, Hampton Park 12 v Endeavour Hills 0, Casey Panthers 3 v Mentone 2, South East United 3 v Aspendale 3.
LADDER
Barton United 19, Hampton Park, Mentone 18, White Star Dandenong 17, Bunyip 13, Casey Panthers, South East United 11, Aspendale 10, Pakenham United 8, Mount Martha 7, Rosebud 4, Endeavour Hills 1.
FIXTURE – ROUND 9
White Star Dandenong v Aspendale, Pakenham United v Casey Panthers, Mentone v Hampton Park, Endeavour Hills v Mount Martha, South East United v Barton United, Rosebud v Bunyip.
