CONFIDENCE HIGH IN WARRIORS CAMP
NORTH Geelong’s confidence has hit new heights after a gutsy 2-0 win over Nunawading City yesterday.
It was a more daring Warriors outfit, one filled with plenty of youth, personified by 17-year-old Jamie Noggler, who proved more than a handful for Nunawading’s back four who found it difficult to play out the back on numerous occasions.
Interim-coach Nathan Rogers seems to be the Warriors’ lucky charm as he made it three wins from three since taking the reins from the bench.
“We worked on the structure — stepping it up a bit higher with the way Nunawading play and the boys did it to a tee,” Rogers said post-match.
“The confidence in what they’re achieving and how they’re playing is so high.
“It’s something that was missing for a few weeks and to have that back with James (Coutts) coming (to coach) in a couple of weeks, we’re going to be hard to stop.”
From the outset, North was given too much space to move the ball through the wings from the likes of Noggler and Michael Anderson.
Noggler backed up his superb match off the bench last week with the same attacking intensity and drive, consistently beating his opponent.
Nunawading rallied after the first 15 minutes and tightened their defensive line before Ben Khalfallah started to exert his influence on the match with numerous runs through the middle of the pitch.
Nunawading managed multiple strikes but most were from outside the box either not challenging or not calling North keeper Hamish Flavell into action.
Anderson drew a foul outside the box after some poor defensive passing before Lewis Waight scored his first goal for the club with a terrific header from the set piece.
Moments later North’s second goal came from another set piece, with centreback turn defensive midfielder Andreas Miltiadou hammering home the errant clearance that fell to his feet.
Rogers said minor adjustments made over the past few weeks had helped improve their offensive mix.
“I think some of the combinations we are doing — the support under the ball is there, instead of us having to turn and go forward,” he said.
“It gives the forwards some more confidence that if they’re blocked they don’t need to take it on, they can bring the ball inside now.”
The Warriors managed to keep a clean sheet despite some second-half pressure through Nunawading’s key recruits in Khalfallah and Massimo Murdocca before Rogers gave 15-year-old Anthony Leban his debut senior match in the final moments of the game.
“It’s good to see those guys come and play at this level but I put a 15-year-old in the last five minutes — debuted him,” Rogers said. “That’s what NPL is about to me and clubs need to back these kids in and give them a shot, it’s not always about bringing superstars to fill your spots.”