DOWN FOR THE COUNT

Besart Berisha was frustrated after missing two golden chances as Western United lost to lowly ranked Central Coast last night.

WESTERN United’s lack of polish in front of goal again came back to haunt it in its 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners last night.

The A-League’s new boys slumped to back-to-back defeats at Central Coast Stadium with Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s deflected shot the difference between the two sides.

But United could have — and probably should have — been out of sight by the time Gallifuoco’s effort beat Filip Kurto via a dodgy attempted clearance from United defender Aaron Calver.

Western United was clearly the superior side for large parts of the match taking 23 shots with six on target.

It created numerous chances to score with Central Coast goalkeeper Mark Birighitti making some strong saves to keep scores 0-0 at half-time.

Chances in the first half included: Dario Jertec shot from distance forcing a good save, Ziggy Gordon clearing a ball off the goal line and Alessandro Diamanti forcing a magical save from Birighitti in the 39th minute from a free kick.

It wasn’t long into the second half before Central Coast made United pay with the game flipped on its head when Gallifuoco got lucky and nestled into the back of the net in the 49th minute.

United threw everything it could at Central Coast in a busy second half. Besart Berisha had a headed effort from close range saved and it had two penalty shouts turned down. In the end it just could not find a goal. And that’s got to be a concern for coach Mark Rudan, whose side is now goalless in two matches.

“We had many shots, but maybe unlucky, maybe some mistake,” Diamanti said.

THE handball rule is just plain confusing after Western United had one clear shout turned down.

Mariner Jack Clisby’s hand was outstretched and behind him when the ball clattered into it in the 84th minute from Dylan Pierias attempted cross.

VAR and ref Alex King both said no penalty.

Last week Brisbane Roar was handed a penalty for a Denis Genreau handball — which wasn’t as bad as Clisby’s.

THE look on Besart Berisha’s face said it all.

A look of pure anger and a touch of shock was written all over the striker when he was subbed off in the 61st minute.

And that frustration still hadn’t left after the final whistle as he sat on the bench with his head in his hands.