What a big week for Green Gully.
The Cavaliers advanced in the FFA Cup with a 1-0 win over Avondale mid-week, snared a point in the league in a tough 2-2 draw away to Hume City on Saturday night and welcomed back coach Arthur Papas after a coaching role with Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Even so, Cavaliers general manager Raymond Mamo was a bit grumbly with their form.
The Cavaliers sit on top of the National Premier League Victoria ladder, but Mamo believes the positive results have been papering over a few cracks. He used the Hume City game as a case in point.
“It was pleasing to come away with a point, but I can’t say we played all that good,” he said.
“It was the same when we beat Melbourne Knights, we just got up in the last second of the game.
“We haven’t been playing good football.”
Green Gully might be suffering from a bit of fixture fatigue.
Any player will tell you, a mid-week game is more fun than training, but the medical staff will preach the importance of rest and recovery.
The Cavaliers’ successful run in the FFA Cup has seen the fixtures pile up and with games being played on heavier grounds as the colder weather hits, it is starting to take its toll.
“It does take a fair bit out of you,” Mamo said.
“All clubs are in the same boat, it’s not just us … so we’re not using it as an excuse.”
Papas has returned to the sidelines as coach for Green Gully, while caretaker Brian Vanega resumes his position as under-20s coach. Could the Cavaliers regain their spark under Papas?
“Everyone from the coaching staff need to be commended for the roles that they’ve taken while Arthur was absent,” Mamo said.
“But we need to get back into playing the style of football that Arthur had initially instilled.”
Green Gully twice came from behind to secure the point at Hume City. Matthew Breeze equalised in the 40th minute, but City still went to the break with a 2-1 lead.
It was not until the 81st minute when Nick Krousoratis hit the back of the net did the Cavs finally get back on level terms.
Green Gully will have a short turnaround in the league again this week, facing Pascoe Vale away on Friday night.
Elsewhere in the NPL, Melbourne Knights played out a 1-1 draw with North Geelong Warriors at Knights Stadium on Friday night.
Jason Hicks gave the Knights a dream start with a volleyed goal in the seventh minute.
The lead was short-lived though, with just six minutes passing before the Warriors had a parity through a Ben Surey own goal.
St Albans Saints are rock bottom, but showed plenty of fight in a 3-2 loss to Port Melbourne Sharks at JL Murphy Reserve on Sunday.
Joseph Monek and captain Ryan McGuffie scored for the Saints in the first half as the sides went into half-time locked on 2-2.
But the Sharks’ Philippe Bernabo-Madrid kicked the decider in the second half.
