ROAN Whiteman again appeared on the scoresheet as Port Saints disposed of Sawtell Scorpions 4-0 at Findlay Park on Saturday.
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Whiteman bagged a second-half brace, while Logan Palmer and Darrell Pascoe Junior also found the back of the net in Saints' third-straight Coastal Premier League victory.
It was also their third-straight clean sheet which enabled them to consolidate their position in the competition's top three.
While the former Wallis Lake striker is reaping the rewards of his teammates hard work, coach Darrell Pascoe indicated it was because all players were contributing.
"He's scoring some beautiful goals, but it's not just about Roan being in the team," he said.
"The whole team are jelling really nicely and we're creating opportunities all over the pitch which is leading to those goals."
Pascoe's tactical change worked wonders on Saturday after Saints had held a slender 1-0 lead at the break in slippery conditions.
"Not everything went our way, but we hung in there," he said.
"I was impressed with our ability to change our game plan at halftime and it was going okay, but we needed to do something else and we were able to do it.
I told the lads we needed to control the ball and not play those long passes and they did that; I couldn't be happier.
- Port Saints coach Darrell Pascoe
"I told the lads we needed to control the ball and not play those long passes and they did that; I couldn't be happier."
While Saints are sitting towards the top of the ladder, they can't afford to take any games lightly with no finals scheduled this season.
Pascoe, however, felt that could work in their favour after his young side ran out of legs towards the end of last year's campaign.
"Last year we were young and we're younger this year, but that week in, week out competition at the finals end was maybe a stretch too far for us," he said.
"I thought last year on our day we were good enough, but we couldn't put back to back to back performances together and we're starting to do that this year.
"It's first past the post and if you can't do that, then you're not in with a chance."
Pascoe, however, admitted the fixture list had been kind to his side with three of their first four matches at home.
I thought last year on our day we were good enough, but we couldn't put back to back to back performances together and we're starting to do that this year.
- Darrell Pascoe
Greater challenges now lie ahead.
"We've been pretty fortunate; we've had three home games out of those four and we've got away games to come and away games are never going to be easy," he said.
A tricky trip to Taree on Wednesday night looms.
"We've got the Wildcats at the Zone field and they'll be good I've got no doubt, so we'll need to be on our game," he said.
"There are no easy games and that's how we like it because it's great for our players; they get to refine their skills each and every week and improve on them."
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