Westgate coach Tony Trifunov was fuming after his side’s 2-0 road loss to Hume United in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2 north west at Laura Douglas Reserve on Saturday.
Trifunov was not happy with the output of his players for large chunks of the game, nor did he pass his own self-examination of his coaching performance on a day when Westgate’s three-game win streak came to an end with a first loss of the season.
Trifunov acknowledged his players fought out the game well in the second half, but the damage had already been done by a lacklustre first 45 minutes.
He believes he might have contributed to the loss by tinkering with a proven winning formula from the opening three games.
“It’s a good learning point for the team and myself as well,” Trifunov said. “I should’ve kept the same game plan the first three games but I made some changes with the way we played.
“I didn’t say to drop the intensity though, I didn’t say to drop the willingness to win the game, but for some reason the players didn’t perform this week.
“I’m still disappointed now – it’s hard to talk about this.”
Westgate went into half-time two goals down and was playing catch-up for the rest of the game.
In stark contrast to the previous three games, Westgate was sloppy in defence and created too few chances to trouble the Hume United goalkeeper.
“It’s our first flat spot for the season,” Trifunov said.
“We didn’t create chances to score a goal.
“We only conceded one goal in our first three games and today we conceded two silly goals.”
There were question marks over Hume United’s first goal.
The Westgate defenders protested, suggesting it was a handball, but Trifunov could not see it definitively from his position.
“I couldn’t see it from the bench,” he said. “The second goal was a silly error, a defensive mistake.”
Trifunov said it was the “wake up call” Westgate needed ahead of Saturday evening’s clash with Mill Park at Ardeer Reserve.
He forecast changes, possibly reverting back to the style of play that saw them pick up nine points from the first three games.
“I’m not going to stick with the way we played today,” he said.
“It was my decision and my mistake.
“We’re not going to get stressed, we’re not going to get panicked.”
Around the grounds, North Sunshine Eagles enjoyed a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Keilor Park to stay three points clear on top of men’s state league 1.
Ryan Dragovic and Diellon Memishi scored for the Eagles.
Sydenham Park also won 2-1, returning from Essendon Royals with all three points.
Western Suburbs twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Altona City.
In state league 2, Brimbank Stallions went down 2-1 to ladder leader Whittlesea United.
In state league 4, Spring Hills had a massive 5-1 victory over Golden Plains.
Western Eagles played out a 1-1 draw away to Altona North.
In state league 5, Keilor Wolves hammered Kensington City 5-2.
In women’s state league 1, Melbourne Knights were beaten 4-1 by Eltham Redbacks.
It was better news for St Albans Saints and Spring Hills in the women’s state league 3.
The Saints toppled Altona City 2-1 after the two Nats – Natalie Grgic and Natasha Razov – scored goals and Spring Hills edged out Maribyrnong Swifts 1-0.
In women’s state league 4, Westgate dismantled Brimbank Stallions in a 16-0 win.
