Yoogali SC sit in a rare position heading into their clash with Leeton United in round 18 of the Billabong Cup at EW Moore Oval on Saturday.
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For the first time since round two, Yoogali SC has been relegated to second on the competition ladder following their 2-1 loss to Hanwood FC.
Yoogali SC coach Anthony Martinello shook last week’s loss off and said his team has been hard at work on the training paddock.
“I think it was just a matter of, we had our chances but they took theirs and we didn't take ours,” Martinello said.
“We didn't play very well, I don’t think it was a great game to be honest.
“We’re OK, we’ll keep going. Obviously we have got to work on things and we will try to do that this week at training.”
Leeton are the only other team to have beaten Yoogali SC this year.
Martinello saw this match as another dangerous fixture in a string of testing games to finish the season.
“I said it last time and the first time we played them. I consider them hard opposition,” Martinello said.
“We have all hard games left, Hanwood FC last week, Leeton, YFC and the Wests.
“Everyone we play, including last week, are all in contention for the finals.
“It shows what kind of character you've got.
“Of course you want to be playing hard games going into finals.
“It gives you a good indication of where you're at.”
Leeton United coach Daniel Alampi has labelled the match as a must win.
He said it was “do or die” for the team after they defeated Griffith City 5-0 last weekend.
United will need to carry on with its winning ways if it is to remain in the hunt.
Alampi said the side would take confidence from last Sunday’s match, but said there was still room for improvement.
“We were up 4-0 at half-time, which was a great effort,” he said.
“After half-time we only put the one goal on the board.
“I thought we took the foot off the peddle a little bit, but the wind was going in the right direction for Griffith.
“I think the conditions probably slowed us down as well.
“We probably could have put more pressure on in that second half.”
Alampi said his side must throw their all at the remainder of the games this season if they were to be a chance of making finals.
“This weekend is definitely a big game for us over in Griffith,” he said.
“I think we’ve played probably seven or eight night matches this year, so we really need to use that experience to our advantage this weekend.
“It basically needs to be pretty much a perfect match on our behalf.”
Kick-off is at 7pm.