On Saturday, the Suns suffered their fifth loss on the bounce as a pair of penalties proved the difference between one point and none against Nunawading City in the Victorian Premier League Two.
The nature of defeat, a 3-1 scoreline, perhaps doesn’t tell the whole story.
During the first half, import forward Justin Reischer announced himself in Suns colours with his first goal for the club to give his side the lead.
Reischer peeled out left and found himself in a patch of great real estate, receiving and driving through on goal before tucking the ball beneath Nunawading’s goalkeeper to spur the Orangemen into action at Mahoneys Reserve.
The American engineered plenty of chances, but couldn’t double his tally and the spurned opportunities would soon come back and bite Craig Carley’s side on the behind.
Because, as good teams do, City made the Suns pay dearly for their latency.
The hosts were gifted a penalty after Tutu Taya axed his marker inside the box, with Alex Kubenko stepping up to crash the ball home from 12 yards.
At one-all, all was left to play for — but Kubenko had more to pull out of his bag of tricks.
The rapid striker tore onto a well-weighted through ball which penetrated the Suns’ defence, with Kubenko rounding custodian Alexander Georgopoulos and finishing to secure his brace.
Nunawading’s number nine completed his hat-trick from the spot in a dubious manner, with shouts of simulation sounding as he went down softly in the penalty area.
However, referee William Quartermain blew his whistle for another spot kick and Kubenko was on repeat business as he coolly converted.
Astoundingly, all of the goals came in the opening 45 minutes, but Nunawading came close to adding more as a shot rattled off the bar in the second stanza.
Darcy Pawlik’s first minutes of the season upon return from injury was a small win for the Suns, but the ladder position and points tally is a damning report for Carley’s outfit.
Remarkably, the Suns stay rooted in 10th following the slew of defeats, but the gap between themselves and top side Brunswick Juventus has ballooned to 14 points.
That means this Saturday’s home fixture against Doveton is “must win” by dictionary definition.
The Doves are winless and sit one spot below the Suns on the ladder and, for either side, victory is vital in the race to avoid relegation.
