PORT Saints couldn’t muster two wins from a total of 18 Football Mid North Coast Premier League matches last year.
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After their 4-1 hammering of Camden Haven Redbacks on Saturday, it already means this season is more successful than the last one.
Coach John Goodman refuses to get carried away.
He’s been in this position before down in Newcastle.
“I remember one year we were undefeated for most of the season and we finished fourth,” he said.
“Things can change very quickly.”
Consistency is one aspect Goodman wants to improve from Saints and in two games he has already achieved that.
But maybe it’s a bit too much.
Last week they went a goal down and history repeated again when the Redbacks scored inside the first 10 minutes.
“It was against the run of play,” Goodman said.
Instead of their heads going down, the goal sparked Saints into action.
Flynn Goodman, Ty Marchant, Sam Bailey and Anthony Jamieson then all added their names to the scoresheet.
“I don’t want it to become a pattern where we go a goal down,” the coach said.
“The most pleasing thing about the game on the weekend is that going a goal down doesn’t seem to affect them one bit.
“They just keep playing, but there is a difference between creating your opportunities and taking your opportunities.”
Goodman said Saints would continue to “take it one game at a time” and they would not get too carried away.
He knows more difficult challenges await.
“Camden Haven just ran out of puff and it probably could have been more,” he said.
Patty Hamilton missed an opportunity late in the game to make it five.
“He popped it over the bar – it was an absolute sitter,” Goodman said.
“But the result was already done and dusted so it didn’t matter too much.”
Player unavailability due to music festival Groovin The Moo in Maitland played a role in some other results, so Goodman said Saints’ feet were firmly planted on the ground.
“Everything is a little bit artificial this week, because I’ve heard some teams had players missing because they were at that,” he said.
“We’re not getting carried away, but we’re very pleased where we’re at.”
Goodman said the performances of Bailey Richmond and Wilson Harries were more positives for the club in reserve grade’s 4-1 victory over the Redbacks.
Richmond scored twice, while Harries also found the back of the net.
“It was good to see two 15-year-old’s get on the park and help us out,” Goodman said.