Bentleigh coach John Anastasiadis was delighted to see his depleted side comfortably collect three points away to an in-form Port Melbourne on the weekend.
“I’ve got a pleasant headache for our next game. We had six players out. The boys came in, did a fantastic job. We were super,” he said.
The ex-South Melbourne and PAOK Thessaloniki striker revealed that his specific deliberations to neutralise Port Melbourne’s creative playmakers paid off.
“We made their danger players go backwards. We worked on [Graham] Hockless not being able to feed [Lambros] Honos. It worked to a T,” he said.
“We worked all week to get numbers behind the ball. Our defending was brilliant today. Didn’t allow them to get behind us.”
Bentleigh breezed to victory despite the twin hurdles of both the home side’s hot form and more critically, the absence of six of its first-team players from the lineup.
Anastasiadis, who previously coached South Melbourne to a Cup win in 2006, reserved glowing praise for his young defenders in particular.
“Some of these boys never get chances. They stepped up to the plate and did very well. I’m happy for them.
“The whole back four were great to watch. [Milos] Ridesic – quality young lad, only 17 [years old].”
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that an inability to finish off goal-scoring opportunities was becoming a disappointing theme for Bentleigh.
“Finishing! Going to drive you crazy. Not just half chances – super chances. Got to put them away. That’s what’s hurt us all season.”
Anastasiadis did anticipate an intense final two rounds in the battle to qualify for the Victorian Premier League finals however.
“[The Finals race] is going down to the wire. The ball’s in our court. Two games at home. No excuse for us. We’re smelling it. These next two games are [effectively] finals for us. We want to end up one better than last year.”
Bentleigh Greens host fellow finals challengers Green Gully Cavaliers on Friday 13 September, 8:15pm, at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. The match will take place after a VPL-wide one week break.