LAST night’s 0-0 draw away to Eastern Suburbs was disappointing because I felt we did enough across the 90 minutes to win the game.
We were the more dominant side and, particularly in the final 20 minutes, Easts looked happy to hold on for a point.
We just weren’t at our creative best in that final moment — whether it was the killer pass, the finish or the final bit of quality needed to break them down.
Fernando Nash was unlucky to hit the post late in the first half, and that could have changed the complexion of the game.
When you play a side on a difficult run, you want to score early and put them back under pressure.
We started well, but we allowed Easts to grow in confidence.
Defensively, I thought we were strong.
Andrew Pengelly is a proven goalscorer in this league, but our boys kept him quiet.
Easts set up quite deep and he was often operating around midfield, but our backline handled the game well.
Young Jackson Ballantine also came on and did well.
He is still at school, but he is one for the future and it is encouraging to see him continuing to develop at this level.
The finals race now goes to the final round, but our approach is simple – we have to beat Magic this Friday.
They have improved in recent weeks and will be a difficult opponent.
We cannot get caught up worrying about other results, goal difference or what Gold Coast Knights or Brisbane City might do.
If you take your eye off your own game, you lose focus on the one thing you can control.
We have to prepare well, give everything against Magic and then see where the results fall.
To be alive in the race for finals football in the last week of the season is a sign of progress for the club.
Of course, there are points we will look back on and regret dropping against sides below us, but that is football.
The players have worked incredibly hard all year.
Most have full-time jobs before they come to training and play on weekends, and that commitment should never be underestimated.
We will be ready to give it everything in the final game.
