By Lance Jenkinson
Werribee City set its standards so high during its six-game win streak at the start of the National Premier League 2 west season that nothing but a replication of that scorching form will satisfy the team’s hierarchy.
The Bees secured the points in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Box Hill United – but the victory almost felt flat because of the dour way it was achieved, according to Bees coach Sergio Sabbadini.
“It was good to get the win, but we didn’t play very well,” Sabbadini said.
“We controlled the game pretty well, but we weren’t clinical like we have been.
“I was talking to my assistant coach and said, here we are being upset that we didn’t play well, but we still got the three points.
“We set our standards, the players set their standards and we try to play the perfect game.
“We set up to do that and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, I guess.”
After three weeks without a win in the league, Werribee City is at least back to its winning ways.
The Bees returned to form in the FFA Cup on Easter weekend when they produced their best performance of the season in a 3-1 win over top-flight NPL club Green Gully Cavaliers.
But they could not produce a carbon copy of that form against lesser opposition in Box Hill United.
“Last week against Green Gully, which is a team in a higher division, we were much better,” Sabbadini said.
“Whether it was a bit of a come down from that game, I’m not sure.
“The defence was solid as always this week, so we gave Box Hill very little.
“We were just sloppy with our execution going forward.”
Shaun Hodor put Werribee City in front in the 24th minute with his second league goal in as many games.
Hodor is starting to turn heads with the power he puts on his shots.
“Shaun’s got a pretty thunderous sort of shot,” Sabbadini said.
Jake Butler put the finishing touches on the win for Werribee City with a goal in the 90th minute.
Butler was played in by Carl Feely to remain the leading scorer for the team with seven league goals.
Sabbadini was full of praise for defence-minded players Julyan Collett, David Parkinson and Tyler James.
Top-of-the-ladder Werribee City will visit Ballarat City in the league on Saturday before a trip to Brunswick City in the FFA Cup sixth round on Tuesday night.
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