REDLANDS United coach Nick Dibbs said he was pleased with his teams performance despite a 2-1 loss to Brisbane Strikers on Friday night.
“Not the result I wanted but I’m still very pleased with the boys performance,” he said.
“We still faze out in moments, individual mistakes and the second goal was a bit disappointing.
Not the result I wanted but I’m still very pleased with the boys' performance
- Nick Dibbs
“The boys are competing in the last 10 to 15 minutes of games and we’ve scared the hell out of teams but we want to start scaring teams from the start,” Dibbs said. Redlands scored within the opening 15 minutes of the match as Alex Warrilow curved the ball into the top corner after Scott Sargent was brought down just outside the box. There was a chance for Redlands to extend their lead but a brilliant save from Strikers goalkeeper Nathan Archbold denied Shuto Kuboyama header.
Most of the half was spent at the Redlands end as Strikers, who seemed to have chance after chance in front of goal, were unable to get the ball into the back of the net. But it was midfielder Jake Mclean who found the goal, which saw Strikers go level before Trent Clulow scored the second eight minutes and put his side in the lead.
The second half was much more settled with only a few chances on target as both sides’ defenders worked overtime. Strikers did have chances to extend their lead but they were not critical in front of goal with shots either going wide or caught by goalkeeper Andrew Ralph.
In the dying minutes of the game, Redlands looked certain to equalise but Archbold pulled off another fantastic save. It was Redlands fourth loss of the season but Dibbs believes his side have done 80 per cent of the work there is just 20 per cent left to go.
“Strikers are a real disciplined football playing side, and to be honest I would like to play them every week,” he said. “They’ve got a very good structure they play and great players, I think we matched them well. “I can’t say I’m disappointed, I’m disappointed with not having three points and feel for the boys.”
Redlands will turn to the next two games with a trip to AJ Kelly Park to face Peninsula Power in the FFA Cup before going to Goodwin Park to face the undefeated Olympic FC. “We will treat the game (against Olympic) like any other,” Dibbs said.
