Former premier league teams Tuncurry Forster ZPL and Wallis Lake encountered tougher competition than they bargained for when their respective opponents employed strong defensive tactics against them in round four of the Men's Southern League competition over the weekend.
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Tuncurry Forster ZPL were trailing 2-0 with 15 minutes to go in their clash against Pacific Palms on Saturday, before a flurry of late goals saw them claim a 5-2 victory.
Coach Scott Fletcher said his boys struggled to break down Pacific Palms' defence and as a result were caught off-guard by their attack, which led to the two-point deficit.
However, once Tuncurry Forster ZPL finally broke through the goals quickly followed, helped in no small part by a fatigued Pacific Palms' side and a red card to one of their players.
"Once the floodgates opened, they couldn't keep us out," Mr Fletcher said.
"We ended up stamping our authority on the game."
He listed goal-scorers Blair Smith and Levi Barclay as two of his team's standouts, along with defender Joey Newman, but said he expected his players to learn from the experience going forward.
Wallis Lake faced a similar scenario against club mates the Great Lakes Vikings at Boronia Park, with the competition favourites kept scoreless until the last 20 minutes.
Eventually finishing up 4-0 winners, Great Lakes United Football Club president, Kevin Stevens, said Wallis Lake was left frustrated by the Vikings' tactics, which saw them focusing all their energy on stymieing Wallis Lake's attack.
"The Vikings parked the bus and fought hard," he said.
"It got a bit testy there in the second half."
Mr Stevens said Wallis Lake could expect to face a similar style of football against other teams in the competition and would need to make the appropriate adjustments.
"The Wallis boys just need to work out how to unlock the fences," he said.
"The trick is to run them around and make them tired."
Mr Stevens named Reece Rayner, Mitch Yarnold and Steve Stanton among Wallis Lake's strongest players, while he said defenders Dylan Bonventi and Sam Ravell were equally as impressive for the Vikings.
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Heading into round five, Tuncurry Forster ZPL are set to meet Tinonee while Wallis Lake will play Pacific Palms.
Both sides are at home for the match-ups.
After four rounds of the Men's Southern League, Wallis Lake lead the competition while Tuncurry Forster ZPL are placed fourth.
Last year's runners-up, Hallidays Point Barracudas, are currently third.
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