JUST TOO MEDIOCRE IN MIDDLE

THERE were promising signs of improvement for North Geelong, but the 3-1 loss to Langwarrin was not the result Warriors fans or coach Luciano Trani were after.

A trend of conceding soft goals is starting to emerge for the Warriors, and it is hurting not only the scoreline but also the attacking momentum they have worked hard to create.

Trani said post-match his side needed to provide more support to his defensive unit.

“I felt we gave too much room in the middle part of the pitch. We were too stretched and I felt they were getting more balls over the top or in behind our midfield,” Trani said.

“I thought our clearances weren’t quite where they needed to be. We should have dealt with them a lot better.”

The first half was a tale of back-and-forth strikes from both teams, with the Warriors’ attacking flair alive again after it was completely numbed last week by Melbourne City.

Darius Madison’s trademark dash reemerged, Ryan Oppermann looked dangerous pushing forward in combination with Madison and Tom Hidic’s creativity provided cause for optimism.

“We’ve got those players that have got that change of pace and I think with some space they can come into their own,” Trani said.

“We had one or two chances in the first half and I felt if we scored one of those it might have given the boys a lift.”

But a goal to Langwarrin halted the Warriors’ play. A deflection fell straight to Langwarrin striker Liam Baxter at point-blank range from the goal line.

A second goal came soon afterwards and as quick as you like Langwarrin had a two-nil lead at half-time.

The Warriors called on youngster Jamie Noggler at the start of the second half and it coincided with a Warriors resurgence. Noggler’s pace and dare impressed Trani as the Warriors created some genuine chances after the break, but a third Langwarrin goal thanks to a sublime cross from John