In a clash dubbed the battle of the birds, the Ibises were felled 2-0 by Deakin Ducks at Waurn Ponds on Saturday.
A slew of chances went begging for Tatura during a frustrating 90 minutes of cup football, with coach Tristan Zito hinting at a lack of hunger in front of goal as the damning factor.
“I couldn’t fault the effort from the boys, we kept the ball for the majority of the game, but couldn’t break down the opposition. They were well organised,” Zito said.
“We needed to be more clinical in the front third; I think we’ve got the players in our squad with potential to score lots of goals and be attacking, we just need to work out the best way to use those players going forward and spend some more time on it at training.”
Starting on the front foot, Tatura took charge in the first 15 minutes.
However, the Ibises failed to trouble the score line, and were made to pay as Ducks striker Marcus Lindeburg pounced on a cut back from the by line for 1-0 midway through the first period.
Jordan Leocata’s looping header caught the Ducks keeper flat-footed minutes later, but his blushes were saved as the ball tickled the post and rebounded safely into play.
Upping the ante in the second half, Tatura still struggled to score with the ball seemingly magnetised to the Ducks custodian's hands.
As the final whistle grew nearer Tim Lardner’s effort which rattled off the goalframe had heads in hands.
Piling on the agony, Lindeburg then converted a breakaway counter for his second, effectively killing the game off to send the Ibises home without reward.
More than a month remains until the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League starts, which Zito said would be used to polish areas which need strengthening on the training park.
“I’m happy with the squad, we just need to look at getting everyone fit and firing before round one,” he said.
“It’s been a big month of training and practice matches after 18 months off, we will keep working in the weeks to come and hit the ground running for round one.”
● Five of the best had the Goulburn Valley Suns wipe Hampton East Brighton off the park during Saturday’s friendly fixture.
Sean Grant’s curled effort from range opened proceedings at McEwen Reserve for the Suns, followed by a chanceless brace courtesy of midfielder Matt Lelliott.
Triallist George Murrihy then fired home a wicked left foot drive to put the hosts four ahead.
East Brighton hit back with a consolation goal against the run of play, before Suns youngster Brandon Giaccherini added the exclamation point to complete the 5-1 rout.
Earlier in the day, Craig Carley’s decision to whack on the boots proved fruitful as he scored twice to help the Suns’ under-21s overcome East Brighton’s reserves 2-1.
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