The scoreboard made for pretty reading for Coffs City United at Port Macquarie on Saturday when they registered their sixth-successive Coastal Premier League victory.
Joel Hampson scored a brace while Mabior Garang and Jemila Oko found the back of the net as the Lions seemingly cruised to a 4-0 win over Port Saints.
But coach Glenn Williams said the difference between the teams on the scoreboard wasn’t a true reflection of the game.
“It wasn’t a dominant game … we didn’t dominate; they had a few chances right at the start of the second half and it could have been a different story if they took those,” he said.
“It was more to the point of we took our opportunities and put them away.”
Coffs City continued their impressive recent run of results which has included an FFA Cup victory over Lake Macquarie City and a hard-fought defeat to Newcastle Olympic in the last eight days.
“We spoke about Newcastle and how it can ruin your thought processes because you can become a bit complacent or arrogant or whatever word you want to use,” Williams said.
“It was about soldiering on so to speak and being able to stick to a plan. You can have a bit of a roll-on effect playing the FFA Cup, but it can also have the opposite effect of tired legs and sore bodies.”
Williams indicated he would look to rest some of his players in coming weeks with a number of recognised first graders making returns in reserve grade’s 4-1 win over Port.
“It’s good we’ve got a bit of depth coming through so I can look after some players’ bodies,” he said.
Saints coach John Goodman left Findlay Park confident his side had the ability to make a surge up the ladder if they consistently delivered a similar performance despite the scoreline.
“They never opened us up in general play and I thought we played a good game and missed two – they weren’t chances – they should have been goals,” he said.
“That’s what it comes down to for us at the moment; we’re not putting our chances away.
“If we keep playing like that for the rest of the year I can’t see why we can’t be there in the top four at the end if we finish our chances. We literally need to finish our chances.”
In other matches, Northern Storm moved into third position with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Kempsey Saints while Port United slipped to fourth after a 2-1 loss to Boambee.
At the foot of the table, Taree Wildcats upset Coffs Coast Tigers 4-2 to register their first win of the season while second-last placed Sawtell held Macleay Valley to a 2-all draw.
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