SOMETIMES you have to take a few risks to get the reward – just ask Port United.
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Unfortunately there were no rewards, but it wasn’t through a lack of trying as the Green Bloods were knocked out of the FFA Cup.
Defending National Premier League champions Lambton Jaffas were in no mood for fairytales as they inflicted a ruthless 8-0 demolition of United at Speers Point on Saturday.
United started and finished the match well, but it was a 50-minute period of chaos between the 15th and 65th minutes where the Jaffas banged in eight goals.
With the match as good as over and trailing 4-0 at the break, United coach Nathan Wade told his players to attack in search of a goal.
“That was our challenge; if someone could score, then the rest of the boys would shout them beers all night,” Wade said.
“Obviously that didn’t happen, but we didn’t sit back and try and keep the score to as low as possible, we still tried to play attacking football.”
Wade knew his side would have limited opportunities in possession and that proved to be the case.
If there was a possession statistic, United wouldn’t have had any more than 25 per cent of the ball.
“Once you start chasing the ball you’re always on the back foot,” Wade said.
“Trying to get the ball off them … everywhere they passed they knew there was going to be a man there and then when we had the ball they closed it down quicker than what we’re used to.
“We knew it was going to be tough, but they were too classy for us.”
The United coach couldn’t fault the effort of his players, with Matt Broderick’s goal-line clearance with the score standing at 8-0 typifying their effort.
“None of them gave up; they just got very tired at the end because had never had to work that hard in a game before,” he said.
“If you play against quality sides like that for six months you eventually get better and get used to the speed that they play at.
“When you play against better sides you just naturally get better.”