Brunswick City manager George Karkaletsis has blamed a lack of concentration for his side’s lazy finish to the match in the 1-0 home defeat to Box Hill United.
A 94th minute Alex Schroen finish, slotting the ball around Harry Raworth on a tight angle, was all that was needed to take all three points from Dunstan Reserve, a second late goal conceded in consecutive weeks.
Bringing back zero out of a possible six points from the last two games has left the Spartans in sixth place in the NPL2 East Victoria, whereas the extra two points would have pushed Karkaletsis’ side up to equal fourth place.
Karkaletsis attributed the loss to Brunswick’s lack of scoring opportunities taken, as well as his side’s lack of concentration.
“In the last two weeks, we’ve conceded very late goals,” Karkaltesis said.
“I think just concentration, you know we made an error today, made an error last week, and I think that we need to be scoring goals obviously to win games.”
Brunswick’s top scorers consist of Adam Wright and Dimi Vithoulkas, who have scored five and four goals respectively in the NPL2 East Victoria season to date.
Vithoulkas last scored in Round Nine against Goulburn Valley Suns, leaving Karkaletsis to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to figure out how to get his main men firing again.
Keegan Coulter had put in a man of-the match performance in the narrow defeat, preventing various shots and deflections from reaching the back of the net, with Box Hill manager Greg Kassidas later crediting the win to the 21-year-old goalkeeper.
Karkaletsis praised the opposition number one, admitting that his team were only prevented by his quality performance in goals.
“A little bit was luck, and [Keegan Coulter] had a very good game, and probably close to best on ground,” Karkaletsis said.
“He’s parried and got a few hands to a couple of shots and deflections from six-yards out.
“[Coulter] had a good game and I think that was a reflection on how we played.
“We really pressed them in the first half and created quite a few opportunities, we put that down to really good goalkeeping,” he added.
Brunswick faces another tough test at Grange Reserve to face second placed Kingston City in Round 13 – a side which has scored 10 goals in their last three games.
They then face up against an Eastern Lions outfit in Round 14, which has experienced a lull in form in recent weeks.
Photo: Sophocles Mavrelis/Brunswick City