Frustrated, would be the most suitable way to explain the feeling after the North Geelong Warriors were unable to make their dominance pay and come away with all three points in their home clash against Moreland City which ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
Focus quickly turns to Moreland Zebras now in order to maintain the prospect of continued pressure on league leader St Albans after they won 1-0 over Sunshine to have a three-point lead with two rounds to go.
Zebras are a well drilled unit, and over the years have proved a difficult side to break down. Coming off a 1-0 win against out-of-form Whittlesea, they halted a short losing streak and remain within a sniff of surging into the top two to push a play off chance.
Last time the Warriors met the Zebras, it ended in a 0-0 draw where an undermanned North Geelong almost snuck away with a win late in the match.
North Geelong will be looking to its finishing this week as their dominance last week didn’t provide any joy on the scoreboard.
Chances in the first half that were previously paying off didn’t come to fruition for Michael Anderson and Kene Eze and were well saved by Man-of-the-Match Moreland keeper Kieran MacDowell.
In the second half, Vito Cichello ruled the midfield to combine with Matt Thorne on several occasions driving advantageous passes to the attacking areas, however the trend continued and gilt edged opportunities to Juso Julardzija, Anderson, Eze and Thorne were all spurned.
Coach Micky Colina explained that a very disappointed dressing awaited him at the end of the match.
“The lads are shattered they didn’t make it pay, but don’t dismay, they are a resilient mob and will come out next week to atone and continue their push for promotion”.
This weekend’s round 27 clash is the last home for the Warriors before they head into the final round away to Ballarat.
