Following Saturday’s 3-3 draw to Pascoe Vale in round six of the Victorian Premier League Two, coach Craig Carley suspects a big result could be just around the corner given the threatening style of play his side is currently putting out.
“The brand of football we’re playing at the moment and the chances we’re creating, it’s only a matter of time until we give a side a really good touch up,” Carley said.
However, if the weekend’s high scoring tie is anything to go by, it’s that goals go both ways.
Away to Pascoe Vale at Hosken Reserve, the Suns began with a roar as full back Cailyn Trask embarked on a marauding run from inside his own half, received a flick pass off Laywi Niyonkuru and slotted home for a 1-0 lead inside two minutes.
Yet five minutes in, the score read 2-2.
The Rams gave an instant reply to the early opener through a Suns mistake, then took the lead shortly after a well-worked passage of play was completed by a headed finish.
The Suns went right down the other end and restored parity through Mangara Munguakonkha, who picked up the ball on the edge of the box, went around the houses and fired it low past the keeper.
Finally the chaos calmed, but the Suns had their third later in the half as Callum Schorah’s first time whip rippled the net from a recycled corner move.
Carley indicated his side was danger personified throughout the match, creating 17 chances, but the one that mattered the most landed Pascoe Vale’s way.
A dubious free kick given away on the edge of the box was expertly converted to give the Rams a share of the spoils, leaving a bittersweet taste in the Orangemen’s gaffer’s mouth.
“I’m really, really proud of how the boys played; they were excellent and deserved more for their efforts,” he said.
“For the neutral, it was a very good game of football, but to be perfectly honest I thought we carved them up on numerous occasions.
“It’s disappointing not to get the full three points, but I can’t fault the effort of the boys, I thought they were tremendous all game.
“Testament to the boys on the weekend; you’ve got one of the key figures at Pascoe Vale saying that we’re the best team by a mile that they’ve come up against.”
The Suns are now unbeaten in three matches — including their 3-0 win over Boroondara Eagles in the Australia Cup last Tuesday night — and Carley is quietly content with how his side is progressing.
“I think it’s just getting that belief within the group, trusting the process and trusting how we want to play,” he said.
“At times, we do leave ourselves vulnerable with this style of play, but trusting us as coaches in the fact that we think this is the best brand of football for us to play and go and get results.
“I’m a firm believer that our intensity is our identity and the way we’re moving the ball is fantastic.”
Up next for the Suns is promoted side Springvale White Eagles at McEwen Reserve and, like always, the contest is expected to be cut-throat.
“We know what Springvale are all about — they’re a physical side and a good footballing side as well,” Carley said.
“It’s a tough league to get out of, state league one, and they managed to do it, so we’re expecting a tough game as it always is against every team in our league.”
