By Lance Jenkinson
Just when it seemed Werribee City’s form could not get any better, it has delivered a game coach Sergio Sabbadini describes as “some of the best football we’ve played all year”.
The Bees made it five straight wins to start the National Premier League 2 west season in a flawless 4-0 victory over Moreland City on the road at Campbell Reserve on Saturday.
It was a thing of beauty for Bees fans as they witnessed their side defend with a purpose, dominate the midfield and finish with aplomb.
“We defended well, the midfield controlled the entire game and the strikers were a handful all day,” Sabbadini said.
“The goals we scored were pretty spectacular.”
It was one of those days when everything Werribee City touched turned to gold.
Sabbadini was in fine form, calling the shots from the sidelines.
With Dion Paola suspended, he called on Liam Brian to fill a void on the wing after Takanori Nishimoto was moved into a more central position.
Brian capped his performance with the Bees’ first two goals, in the 20th and 60th minutes.
“The first goal was a classy one involving about five or six players with an awesome finish,” Sabbadini said.
“He then hit one into the top corner for his second goal.”
Nishimoto relished the chance to get on the ball in a more central position. He was a conduit between defence and attack.
When Brian went off with cramp, Nishimoto moved back to his more familiar role out wide, providing an assist in Lisandro Paz’s 74th-minute goal.
Photo Gallery: Werribee City vs Moreland City
Paz predicted during the week that a goal by him was not far off.
“I said to him during the week, ‘It’s about time you scored’,” Sabbadini said. “He replied, ‘Yeah, it’s coming’.
“He got one for us against his old club. He showed a lot of class by not celebrating much against his old team.”
Jake Butler rounded out Werribee City’s scoring with a goal in the 87th minute.
It was a tough weekend for New Zealanders following the Christchurch massacre and Sabbadini made sure his players with links to the country were ready to play.
“We’ve got three of them with New Zealand links,” Sabbadini said. “Jake’s a New Zealander and the other two are Australians who have lived in New Zealand. I didn’t know how they’d react, to be honest.
“So I made a point of seeing how they were yesterday at the ground. I was going to say to them, ‘If you feel strongly that you don’t want to play, the club wouldn’t stand in your way’. But they were OK.”
Werribee City remains two points clear on top of the ladder.
The Bees will face middling east conference side Springvale White Eagles in the sixth round at Galvin Park on Saturday from 3pm.
MORE NPL NEWS
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www.starweekly.com.au/sports/melbourne-knights-crusade/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/solid-defence-sees-green-gully-through/
