A FIVE-minute lapse in concentration proved costly for Wauchope Soccer Club in Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to Port Saints.
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A Flynn Goodman brace three minutes apart was enough to give the second-placed Saints all three points and relegate Wauchope to its 10th loss of the season.
Wauchope coach Terry Burn admitted his side started the game slowly, but an Aaron Grose header sparked his side into action.
“They came out a bit harder than us, but that goal we conceded snapped us out of it,” he said.
Kade Fens equalised 10 minutes later as both sides went to the break locked at 1-all, after Wauchope had a goal disallowed just before half-time following an offside ruling.
“I thought we were as good, if not better than them for half the game,” Burn said.
An early second-half goal was again disallowed due to offside, which Burn felt was a controversial call.
“I’m happy with the first off-side call, but I thought the second one was a game changer,” he said.
“But that’s life, that’s just our luck this year.”
Wauchope went within millimetres of again gaining the lead after a shot from outside the box hit the underside of the cross-bar and rebounded back into the field of play.
Saints looked nervous for the first 20 minutes of the second half, before Goodman’s two strikes settled the result.
Burn said it was another case of deja vu for his side.
“These five-minute brain fades are absolutely killing us,” he said.
“I’ve lost count of the amount of games we’ve done it and it’s incredibly tough to take as a coach.
“The game was there for the taking, but it’s good that we’re able to compete it’s just those lapses that are the problem.
“We talk about it every game, but it keeps on happening.”
Port Saints coach was happy to emerge from Tuesday night’s game with all three points.
“They’re a really difficult team to play and were competitive and pushed us all the way,” he said.
“Credit to them for still playing how they did.”
Goodman admitted his side were nervous, especially when the score was locked at 1-all early in the second half.
“They did their job then and we just couldn’t get our foot on the ball,” he said.
“It was without doubt the most nervy 20 minutes we’ve probably played all year.”
Wauchope travel to Taree on Saturday for a clash with a rampant Taree Wildcats who have scored nine goals in their last two matches.
Burn is not daunted by the task ahead.
“The last time we played them it was fairly even, it was just those defensive lapses that always cost us,” he said.
“I’ve got no doubt the boys will be able to compete, it will just come down to that mental level.