By Lance Jenkinson
For 90 minutes on Saturday, Werribee City could forget about its recent struggles in National Premier League 2 west.
The smile returned to the dial of Bees coach Sergio Sabbadini, who took delight in his side’s return-to-form 4-1 win over Brunswick City at Galvin Park.
“Much better this week … probably the best we’ve played all year,” he said.
A frustrating question remains – why did this form elude the Bees against relegation-threatened teams in the previous month?
While the Bees are still a mathematical chance of promotion, they are a long shot of finishing in the top two and miracles will be required.
But Sabbadini was not going to let anything dampen his mood after watching his Bees produce at a level he thinks they will be able to deliver on a consistent basis next season.
“We’re going in the right direction again, so that’s good,” he said. “I wish we were in control of our destiny, but it is what it is and we can’t alter that.”
Werribee City was ruthless in attack against Brunswick City.
Unlike the wastefulness of the week prior, the Bees took advantage of most of their opportunities against Brunswick.
“We probably only had six or seven chances and we scored four of them,” Sabbadini said.
“Whereas last week we had the same number of chances and didn’t score any of them.”
Jake Butler set the tone for Werribee City. The New Zealand international scored goals early in the first and second halves to get the Bees rolling.
Butler formed part of a three-pronged midfield with Brad Murray and Dion Paola that was nigh on unstoppable.
“They basically controlled the game,” Sabbadini said.
Trevor Ssemakula put Werribee City three goals up after 53 minutes. It was Ssemakula’s sixth goal of the campaign.
Brunswick hit back through Stefan Ristict three minutes later, but it was too far behind to mount a serious challenge.
Rookie Nemanja Spasojevic provided the day’s highlight, latching on to a Nick Bavcar cross to score his first senior goal at the age of 15.
“He came on for the last five minutes and did a good job,” Sabbadini said. “He’s only a small lad but he’s as quick as the wind. He had one chance and he scored.”
Spasojevic’s sealer was the icing on the cake of a super day for Werribee City.
The Bees will square off with Brunswick City again this Saturday, away at Dunston Reserve.
Sabbadini has warned his players to expect a different Brunswick performance.
“They’ll come harder at us early at their ground,” he said. “We’ve just got to come out with the same sort of intensity, the same sort of work rate. Our ball movement today was superb – very clinical, very clean possession – so we need that again next week.”
