Whittlesea Ranges coach Vinko Buljubasic has assessed his team’s 1-1-1 start to the National Premier Leagues Victoria season as a fair representation of how things are going.
With one of the youngest lists in the competition, the Ranges have hardly been disgraced in their three NPLV1 matches, losing 3-2 to Kingston City in a match that was ended early by rogue sprinklers, a 2-1 win against new consortium FC Bendigo and a 1-1 draw with storied Sunshine George Cross on Saturday.
Secretary Sergio Costanzo said inexperience resulted in the Ranges being down 1-0 at half-time at Chaplin Reserve, Delfin Mosibe Esara scoring after 22 minutes.
And only a referee’s ruling prevented Georgies from going 2-0 ahead in the 38th minute when Jordan Brown’s chip bounced down from the crossbar but was deemed not to have totally crossed the line.
The Ranges regrouped in the second half and 10 minutes in Daniel Peluso steamed into the box and was taken down by George Cross keeper Robert Santilli. Ranges captain Daniel Giogha nailed the resulting penalty.
The heat rose in the latter stages of the game with some push and shove as George Cross looked to take the three points, but the Ranges held firm and escaped with a point.
“I think a draw was fair.
“They had a couple of good chances and we had a couple of good chances as well,” Buljubasic said.
Youth has been the prevailing message at Whittlesea this season and Buljubasic said consistency would take time.
“We’re one of the youngest teams in the league and that’s how I wanted it,” he said. “It will take time as there are a lot of new faces.”
