Claiming a point against a side that is the competition’s runaway leader would normally be considered a happy outcome.
Not for Sunshine George Cross, which featured in a 0-0 draw with National premier League 2 ladder-leader Northcote City at Chaplin Reserve on Saturday.
Georgies coach Tony Ciantar was disappointed his side could not capitalise after controlling the game throughout.
“You’d think a draw today was a good result against this mob, but it wasn’t for us,” Ciantar said.
“We were clearly the better team on the day and very unlucky not to grab all three points.”
It was a game that highlighted Sunshine’s biggest deficiency – scoring. The Georgies once again frittered away a number of clear-cut chances. They are a rock-solid defensive team, ranked third for goals conceded, but have scored the third fewest goals with 19 at 1.35 per game.
Sunshine was seething after a penalty shout was waved away in the first half.
Ciantar was in no doubt what he thought of the decision after a Northcote City defender met the ball in the air with his arm as a Dom Falla corner was directed towards the net by Barry Devlin.
“Their defender put his arm up and it clearly hit his arm, but the referee turned it away,” Ciantar said.
While Sunshine, seventh with 21 points, but still only five points out of second spot, lamented two points that got away, its season appears to be heading in the right direction.
“We’re on a two-week undefeated run and we just want to continue it,” Ciantar said.
In the top-flight NPL, Melbourne Knights had a massive week on and off the field.
There was drama early in the week when long-time coach Andrew Marth was told his services were no longer required.
The Knights players remained focused under caretaker coach Ben Surey to record a stirring 1-0 win over Hume City on the road on Friday night, courtesy of a Marijan Cvitkovic goal in the 76th minute, two minutes after his side had gone down to 10 men.
By Saturday, the Knights had a new coach, with former Port Melbourne Sharks coach Eric Vassiliadis to replace Marth.
Green Gully Cavaliers were humbled on home turf by the Bentleigh Greens in a 2-0 loss.
St Albans Saints sunk to a 1-0 defeat to Avondale.
In women’s NPL, Calder United lost 2-1 to South Melbourne.
