WERRIBEE City did not handle the damp conditions at all well in a 1-0 loss to North Geelong Warriors in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 at Elcho Park on Saturday.
The Bees are best known for their fluent interplay, sharp exchanges and foot speed, but that was nullified by the soggy conditions and a more physical and eager Warriors team.
“We had difficulties with the pitch, but the team didn’t perform properly,” Bees sporting director Giorgio Pastorini told the Weekly.
“We couldn’t play our usual game, passing the ball on the ground, because of the water on the ground.
“North Geelong was hungrier than us, they believed up till the end.”
The Bees had the bulk of possession and time in the attacking half but had few clear-cut chances on goal.
The Warriors patiently defended, trying to hit the Bees on the counter attack, but even they fashioned only a few shots on goal.
A Bees defensive howler in the dying minutes would decide the game.
“Our defender was about to kick the ball away from the penalty box, he slipped in the water and the ball remained there and their centre forward scored,” Pastorini said.
“These things happen in soccer.”
The loss was not disastrous for the Bees, who remain equal second and only four points behind ladder leader Heidelberg United after United’s draw with third-placed Moreland Zebras.
The Bees will have a busy week. Having played in the state knockout cup quarter-final against Dandenong Thunder last night, they will back up on Sunday to host Bulleen Lions at Galvin Park.
Werribee has big goals in sight now that the Italian Sports Club of Werribee and its soccer arm Werribee City has struck up an affiliation with Italian Serie A powerhouse SS Lazio.
The agreement will allow the Bees to develop their young players with the coaching systems used by the Lazio youth program.
Lazio coaches will visit Werribee four times a year to instruct the Bees coaches and conduct soccer camps for young players.
