ROAN Whiteman's first-half strike proved the difference as Port Saints held on to register an important 1-0 victory over Northern Storm in their Coastal Premier League match on Saturday.
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In a match that threatened to boil over at various stages especially during a testy 15-minute period in the second half, Saints steadied the ship and claimed all three points.
Coach Darrell Pascoe was "absolutely stoked" his side managed to bounce back from last week's disappointing 2-1 defeat.
"It was a game we had to win," he sad.
"There are no finals; you can't finish fifth and have a really good run into the finals and come away with glory; that ain't going to happen.
"It's either first past the post or it's nothing.
"If we were two (losses) down after two games, it puts a lot of pressure on and while this win won't take pressure off, it will probably give us confidence to do what we're trying to do."
Pascoe was impressed that his side had shown maturity to fight out an important victory.
"If we were playing this game last year, we lose," he said.
"The game got a bit feisty towards the last 20 and we lost our way for two or three minutes when we got emotionally involved in the game and that happens with young guys and inexperience.
"But to hold on was awesome."
The coach was especially impressed with Logan Palmer who ran up and down the flanks all day and delivered many promising balls into the penalty area.
"I thought Logan had a blinder," he said.
"He worked hard down the flanks and delivered some really exciting balls in and we've got to work a little bit on our finishing and get it more to feet and take those opportunities."