WERRIBEE City is thriving in its makeshift digs at Arndell Park.
The Bees were forced to move all 2012 home games to Truganina while their home base at Galvin Park undergoes ground resurfacing until the summer.
There has been no homesickness for the Bees in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 and they now have an intimate knowledge of how best to play the artificial surface at their temporary home.
Bees coach Nino Ragusa told the Weekly his side can get a competitive edge over opponents who visit the ground without having experienced the faster and truer surface.
“It is different,” he said. “It is definitely to our advantage.
“It’s the same for us because one week we play on the artificial surface and the next we’re on natural grass.We need to improve our results away from home.”
All three Werribee victories have come on their adopted artificial surface.
They are yet to taste success on the road, which is a concern.
The Bees continued their impressive home form with a crucial 1-0 win over Altona Magic on Sunday, knocking the ball around freely, with straight and direct passing the order of the day.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the game.
In-form attacking midfielder Simon Zappia scored the winner after his side pierced the Magic through the middle of the park in a deliberate ploy.
“Against Altona Magic you can hit them straight down the middle,” Ragusa said.
“We outnumbered them in the middle and it helped us keep the ball.
“We also pressed higher up the park.
“If you do that properly it doesn’t let them create and put pressure on our defence.”
The Bees back third was disciplined for the full 90 minutes.
Bobby Bubulj, David Straniero, Rossi Lagana, Brad Murray and Nemanja Govedarica refused to let the Magic put too much pressure on their goalkeeper.
The defensive work, performed by some who were considered stop-gap options at the start of the campaign, has been a feature for the Bees, who
have conceded just 10 times in 10 outings.
“A couple of the boys are makeshift central defenders,” Ragusa said.
“They’re young and inexperienced.
“We’ve got the best defensive record in the league.”
The Bees have moved clear of the relegation zone and into ninth spot.
That is a strong position considering their struggles earlier in the year.
“It was a dull affair but we simply had to do the business of getting three points,” Ragusa said.
“We’ve got a four-point gap on the bottom two, a game in hand and good goal difference.
“It gives us a bit of breathing space.”
The Bees will host promotion-hunters Port Melbourne Sharks at Arndell Park Reserve on Sunday at 3pm.
Go to wyndhamweekly.com.au for more photos from the Bees’ important win over Altona Magic.
