Change In Attitude Required: 1st Team

Following their comprehensive 4-0 loss to AFF Championship side Manukau City on Friday at Te Puru, coah Pete Jones called on his side to adjust their attitude ahead of their Chatham Cup qualifier in Hamilton tomorrow afternoon.

The match was played in front of a fair-sized crowd composed almost evenly of locals and Manukau City supporters.

In terms of their football, BMAFC 1st Team was really not too far away from the mark set by Manukau City on Friday afternoon, however the difference in each side's application to the game was visibly noticable throughout the match. While Manukau City looked tight-knit, Beachlands looked sleep-deprived and stroppy.

The opening run of play was in Manukau's favour, although their attack was fairly well contained by the home side. The first goal of the match came when a stop from Beachlands' keeper deflected into the path of an unmarked Manukau player who, from 6 yards out, had an easy finish to take the early advantage for the visitors.

A second goal came from cheaply lost posession as a lazy run across-field ended in a Beachlands defender being dispossesed in their defensive third of the field. The first half ended at 2-0 to Manukau City.

The second half followed much the same pattern, and Beachlands came unstuck again towards the back end of the half through a defensive effort left wanting. Manukau's third goal was assured as their right side attack found easy passage down the flank, giving time for Manukau to surge forward in numbers in a move which highlighted the yawning gap in attitude bewteen the two sides.

A short time later the visiting team hit a well-struck shot from an acute angle to close out the match 4-0.

The loss leaves BMAFC rooted firmly to the bottom of the Championship division table with no wins from four starts.

Coach Pete Jones' post-match summary called for BMAFC 1st Team players to look inside themselves for more desire and pride in their individual performance in order to be competitive in Easter Monday's Cup match, and indeed to lift themselves up the ladder for the rest of the Championship season.

Time will tell how quickly the Beachlands side - mostly young and bristling with talent - can learn how to play together effectively as a team, with cooler heads and (most importantly) with more self-respect in how they apply themselves to what the team sets out to do each week.

Watch this space...