Werribee had to be lethal from set pieces to get the better of Greater Dandenong Warriors in Hockey Victoria men’s Vic League 2 on Saturday.
The Tigers misfired time and again in open play at President’s Park but twice scored from short corners to seal a bounce-back 2-0 win.
“We were obviously much better than last week,” Tigers coach Andrew Purcell told Star Weekly.
“The guys came out with their heads screwed on and were firing this week.
“It was a really positive change in their attitude.
“It was good to get the points because we knew they’d come out pretty hard against us.”
The head-scratcher for the Tigers is their inability to convert chances in open play … they’re producing a stack of circle entries but failing on the final touch.
Purcell is taking a glass half-full approach, believing the tide will turn before too long.
“We dominated the play, probably had 20-odd scoring attempts and obviously couldn’t convert, but it’ll come together,” he said.
“Once we start getting a couple of those earlier opportunities it will change the whole momentum of the game.
“We’ll just keep working away because I can’t doubt what they’re doing so far with the amount of opportunities they’re creating.”
The Tigers converted two of their four short-corner opportunities, with Jayden Street and Josh Pace on the spot to rocket them home.
“That’s an area we focused on during the week that has probably let us down a bit,” Purcell said.
“It was really positive to get a couple of goals from short corners.”
Tigers goalkeeper Paul Coker was rarely called on.
Street and Adam Hopkins were stingy in defence, but even their work was limited because of the midfield control exerted by captain Ross Cowlishaw and Josh McDonald.
“The goalkeeper only had to make one or two saves early on in the first half,” Purcell said. “Other than that, he really wasn’t tested that much.”
The Tigers have improved to 3-2 ahead of their trip to Old Melburnians.
Purcell was candid in saying he does not know what to expect from Saturday’s opponent.
“We’ve come down a grade and they’ve come up from the grade below, so I have no idea what to expect from them,” he said.
In the women’s Vic League 2, Werribee came out on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller with Casey, losing 4-3 at President’s Park.
Laura Baker, Morgan Jolly and Emma Tivendale got on the scoresheet for the Tigers.
The Tigers will face Melton away on Saturday in a game they will be desperate to win to keep in touch with the top four.
