It took just one minute and 52 seconds for St Albans Saints coach Kruni Razov to realise his side was not switched on in the first half of its entertaining 4-4 draw with Melbourne Victory in the National Premier League 2 west game at Epping Stadium on Saturday.
It was a matter of what damage the Victory could inflict in the first 45 minutes before Razov got the chance to sit his team down and tell a few home truths about the horrible start.
The Victory scored two goals in 21 minutes – the first coming after just 112 seconds –but, thankfully for Razov, they did not add to the carnage and the Saints faced a tough but not insurmountable deficit at the break.
“I wasn’t a happy coach at half-time,” Razov said. “It was one of the poorest halves I’ve seen since I’ve been back as coach two years ago.
“We gave them too much time and space and just looked out of sorts.”
Once St Albans left the dressing rooms to run out for the second half, it was like a new team had taken its place.
Most of the Saints first half ills were cured as they pressured and harassed the Victory into errors and had more control of the play after being starved of the ball in the first half.
Sure, the Victory had strong passages of play resulting in two goals, but three times the Saints came back from two-goal deficits to earn a share of the points and that spoke volumes for their character, according to Razov.
Trailing 4-2 approaching the 90th minute, Michael Grgic headed home to halve the deficit for the Saints.
Then almost immediately after the kick off, the Saints turned the ball over, set up a quick foray forward and Luis Covarrubias was on hand to score a delightful winner, his second goal of the game and fifth of the season.
“I think we were more ferocious on the ball in the second half,” Razov said.
St Albans’ reward for its never-say-die attitude was a spot at the top of the ladder.
The Saints will face North Geelong Warriors away at Elcho Park on Saturday.
In top-flight NPL, Green Gully Cavaliers had a superb 2-1 win over Dandenong Thunder on the road at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday. The Cavs, fourth on the ladder with seven points, will host Oakleigh Cannons at Green Gully Reserve on Friday night.
Melbourne Knights and Hume City settled for a 3-3 draw in a see-sawing game at Broadmeadows Valley Park.
Lance Jenkinson
