A dark start for Zois as Suns fail to shine

Damen Francis

May 13 2014

Shepparton News

The Peter Zois era at Goulburn Valley Suns opened with a 4-1 defeat away to Hume City on Sunday.

It was a baptism of fire for the ex-Melbourne Heart goalkeeper coach, whose side was a goal down inside five minutes and trailed 3-0 after 23 at Broadmeadows Valley Park.

The Suns pulled a goal back after Zois gambled and switched to three at the back, but the home side added a fourth four minutes from time to secure the win.

Pascoe Vale’s 1-1 draw with Werribee City left Goulburn Valley three points clear at the foot of the National Premier Leagues table after eight rounds.

Zois quickly learned the areas that have been letting the Suns down this season.

‘‘When you concede in the first three minutes it’s a concentration thing,’’ Zois said.

‘‘We didn’t come out very sharp and they capitalised on it. Take those three moments away and they had one other opportunity to score in the first half.

‘‘They came out from the back a little too easily, our two wingers were too deep at times and allowed their full backs too much time to receive the ball.

‘‘We need to improve technically, tactically and individually and the boys seem to be willing to do that.’’

Zois made three changes to the side that secured the Suns’ maiden victory against Werribee City last weekend.

Nick Kalafatis returned from a one-game suspension and was partnered in the centre of defence by Naum Sekulovski, who was unavailable against the Bees.

Tom Langman returned to the bench and Stipo Andrijasevic was handed the number 10 role in place of injured attacking midfielder Kristian Sarkies, while Hernan Espindola started on the left with Fahed Alghazaly making way.

Not for the first time this season, it was a nightmare start for the Suns.

Nick Hegarty’s well-weighted free kick was headed home by Petar Franjic to give the home side an early lead.

Johnny Buceto doubled the advantage a short time later, firing home from outside the box, as the Suns defenders allowed him too much time and space.

Hegarty added a third from the penalty spot, as Hume City took a 3-0 lead into half-time.

The Suns showed more fight in the second, with Ben Clarke striking the crossbar, before Zois made his move, with a double substitution.

Frankie Lagana came off with a tight hamstring, along with left-back Rudi Saglam.

Langman formed a back three with Kalafatis and Cody Sellwood, with Sekulovski pushing up to play on the left and Alghazaly slotting into a midfield four.

The moves paid immediate dividends, when Clarke got in behind and was brought down in the box.

For the fifth time this season, Carley stepped up and dispatched the spot kick for his eighth goal of the campaign.

However, City’s Kliment Taseski snuffed out any hopes of a comeback with a neat finish on the break.

‘‘It was a much better second half. It wasn’t great, but it was much better than the first half, much more positive,’’ Zois said.

‘‘At 3-1 we did have the opportunities to make it 3-2 and put some pressure on them, but the ball didn’t go in.

‘‘We just ran out of steam to sustain that pressure, from that we got the goal, we didn’t have the legs to keep pushing and that was a consequence of the first half, because we spent so much time chasing the ball.’’

The Suns host Bentleigh Greens at McEwen Reserve on Saturday night.