By Lance Jenkinson
Werribee City is on a scoring spree in the National Premier League 2 west.
The entertaining Bees have scored nine goals in two outings as opposition defences struggle.
The Bees made it two wins from two starts with a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Brunswick City on the road at Dunstan Reserve on Saturday.
They are the big ticket in town after surging to the top of the ladder.
Bees coach Sergio Sabbadini wanted more goals this season and he is getting his wish early in the season.
“It’s good to see us scoring,” he said. “It’s been one of our focuses for the whole pre-season.”
Werribee City was the first side on the scoresheet in the eight-goal bonanza when Alec Goodwin found the back of the net in the eighth minute.
But the Bees conceded the next three goals – all scored by Brunswick City striker Kwabena Boahene.
Despite giving up a goal a minute before half-time and again after the break, Werribee City remained focused on launching a comeback.
“We went down 2-1 at half-time, but the players were still very confident,” Sabbadini said. “They were like, ‘We’ll get back into this – things just haven’t gone our way’.”
After the concession of a third goal, Werribee City sprung to life with an incredible period of play between the 57th and 72nd minutes.
The Bees ran riot to score four goals and blow the home side off the park.
“We just went crazy,” Sabbadini said.
It all started in the midfield for Werribee City, where Jake Butler was once again in total control of the game’s flow.
The Bees vice-captain topped his game off with two goals, taking his tally to four goals in two games.
“He scored two cracking goals,” Sabbadini said. “He was tremendous all day, but he really controlled the whole second half.
“He prepares himself really well. He’s always the first one out at training and always one of the last back in.”
Takanori Nishimoto was full of energy for Werribee City off the bench.
The left midfielder scored the Bees’ third goal and could be in line for a start in the next game.
Bees captain Brad Murray and Dion Paola were busy in the central third.
Much of Werribee City’s drive came from the back, where the speed of Tyler James and Lisandro Paz proved damaging.
James capped his stellar performance with a goal.
“He had a great game at full-back,” Sabbadini said. “He defended well and he also gave us a bit of drive out wide on the right-hand side.
“Him and Lisandro Paz combined pretty well.”
While it was mostly positive for Sabbadini, he is slightly concerned about conceding three goals.
“In the first half, we were a bit scratchy and made some uncharacteristic mistakes, which we’ll have to work on during the week,” he said.
“You can’t concede three goals – that’s way too many.”
Werribee City, two points clear on top, will travel to Epping Stadium on Sunday to face fifth-placed Melbourne Victory.
MORE NPL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/green-gully-sets-hot-pace-as-pre-season-goals-fulfilled/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/hume-city-sets-up-season-with-two-from-two/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/calder-united-keeps-on-track/
