A second-half onslaught spelled a 3-0 loss for the Suns, as Sydenham Park was too quick on the counter at McEwen Reserve on Wednesday night.
“It was a disappointing result in the end, the better side on the night won,” coach Craig Carley said.
“I thought that they wanted it more than us, so full credit to them.
“We certainly weren’t our usual selves last night, but we’re looking for a response this weekend to get back on track.”
A relatively cagey first half went the way of neither side.
No concrete chances were carved out as McEwen’s nets remained untouched until the interval.
Five minutes after the restart, Gera Bilyansky whipped a ball past Zac McLeod’s flailing left hand to grant his team ascendancy.
Nothing further developed until the hour mark, when the visitors punished an encroaching Suns line with a scintillating breakaway attack.
Despite an astute save from McLeod initially, Masi Benjamin swooped in to tap home Sydenham’s second before entertaining the away end with an extraordinary backflip celebration.
Throwing the kitchen sink forward in search of a reply, the Suns pushed to invade a large portion of space in the Brauman St end.
But nothing gave.
Instead, Zach Lisolajski drove the stake in further by finishing off another rapid counter for Sydenham to make it 3-0 and three straight losses for the Suns.
The chance to break a recent flat streak arises at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday.
League actions resumes as eighth-placed North Geelong arrive off the back of an inspired win in the FFA Cup.
After thrashing Keilor Park 6-1 on Wednesday night, the drums are sure to be banging in force when the Warriors touch down in Shepparton on Saturday for 4 pm kick off.
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