Wolves pay for lethargy

BY JOEL RITCHIE
26 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

A horror start doomed the South Coast Wolves to a 4-2 loss against Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground yesterday.

The hosts led 2-0 after 12 minutes through Chris Triantis and Cedric Ramirez, before South Coast equalised via Mark Piccolini's first-half brace.

South Coast dominated for long spells of the final 45 minutes, but Ramirez's second goal 20 minutes from time and Phil Makrys' deflected effort 10 minutes later dashed their hopes of getting anything out of the round-nine clash.

The defeat meant the Wolves (eight points) plunged to 10th place, one point ahead of cellar dwellers APIA, but two adrift of sixth-placed Sutherland.

Coach Trevor Morgan said the nightmare opening cost South Coast the match.

"We allowed them a 2-0 head start - I told them before the game they would have to start well and it didn't happen," Morgan said.

"The first 20 minutes were our fault - we were way too loose defensively.

"We had 50 minutes where we were better and 40 minutes where they were better - if our good 50 minutes came at the beginning they would have given up."

South Coast's second successive defeat was marred by missed chances - Tayfun Buyukkopru rattled the crossbar in the second minute, Andrew Keep's header was tipped over just before the break and the second period belonged to the visitors, despite the scoreline.

"Sometimes we took a touch too many or they pulled off a block or a good save," Morgan said.

"We are scoring in every game, we've only been shut out once."

Morgan remained upbeat, even though his team missed a chance to jump as high as sixth on the ladder.

"It's disappointing to lose any game, I will go through my decisions and line-ups but the players have to take responsibility for the start," Morgan said.

"Take away that opening period and I'm happy - they got a 2-2 draw and played the better football.

"We have just got to keep persisting, because we play some good stuff."

The Wolves will look to snap their two-game losing streak when they visit 11th-placed West Sydney on Sunday.

Earlier, the Wolves youth grade side lost 2-1.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/wolves-pay-for-lethargy/1812462.aspx