By Tara Murray
Every game is a mini final for St Albans in the run home in the National Premier League.
It hasn’t been the season the Saints were after and found themselves sitting third last heading into round 19 on the weekend, after deadline.
While the Saints were in a similar position last season fighting for survival in the top flight, coach Cameron Watson said it was a different situation.
“I came in last year and it was about survival,” he said. “This year we have not been able to capitalise.
“I think the biggest thing this year is that for 90 per cent of the season so far the way that we have performed has been really good.
“It’s little moments that have let us down. We want to get out of the relegation zone as soon as possible.”
Watson said they had been disappointed to find themselves in the spot that they are in and didn’t expect to be down there.
He said they were there for a reason.
“It’s been a funny season,” he said. “We’ve done very well against the top four or five teams,” he said.
“We’ve let ourselves down when we had to play those teams around us or beneath us at the time.”
Case in point was the Saints 2-2 draw with second placed Avondale in round 18.
Watson said it was always hard to face Avondale at Avengers Park and come away with the full points.
“It was a fair result,” Watson said.
Watson said you only need to win a couple of games to rise up the ladder and be in a better position, as shown by South Melbourne in recent rounds.
Despite the Saints position, Watson said the vibe of the group remained and the next couple of weeks could set up the rest of their season.
We have eight games left and want to make our run in the next few weeks,” he said.
“We’ve got some big opportunities there.
“I think we’re in an OK position as we play a number of other teams that are around us on the ladder.
“Everyone is around us or beneath us and we have eight finals to play. We will treat every game that way and where we end up, is where we deserve to end up.”
The Saints are due to face Oakleigh at home on Friday night.
In other matches set down for the weekend, Melbourne Knights host Green Gully in the local derby.
