Cobram challenge too great for Devils

Wangaratta City FC were unsuccessful in their bid to poach some points off Cobram Roar in the division one men’s competition, with the Devils succumbing to a 2-3 loss on Sunday. The dreaded away trip to Cobram claimed another victim, with the Roar maintaining a strong record at home while the Devils conceded goals early. While they were able to strike back, with Campbell McDiarmid scoring a brace, the leaky defence ultimately was their undoing. Senior men’s coach Vitaly Leschen said the loss was emblematic of their season to date. “It’s a bit disappointing when we look back on it,” he said. “The first half, they were on top of us in terms of attacking positions, but our defence was very good, I don’t think they had any major chances “Unfortunately for us, the story of our season is while they didn’t have any major chances, we still conceded two goals we really shouldn’t have, and we went in at half-time 2-0 down. “It’s the story of our season, they went up and scored from a corner which we really should’ve cleared and dealt with. “We got it back to 3-2 and from that point we were on top of the game but just couldn’t find that third goal. “There are good and bad elements, a bit of a tale of our season.” Leschen said playing the Roar at Apex Park was always a challenge for everyone, with Cobram only losing twice at home all season. “I think it’s just the travel, to be honest, I think it’s different going to Cobram than going anywhere else in the league because it’s a place we don’t go to too often,” he said. “You go to Albury every second week, Myrtleford most people are used to going there, whereas Cobram is a different place. “I realised when I was there on Sunday and I needed to go to the shops to pick up ice, I’ve been going there for 20 years and it’s the first time I’d ever actually gone into Cobram itself and not just the soccer ground. “I think it impacts you mentally when you come there.” The Devils have two matches left before finals, and will need players to step up to fill the void left by injuries to Justin Cirillo and James Wells. “We just need to try and build a bit of momentum as much as we can," Leschen said. “I still think we’ve got the talent in the squad to be competitive in the quarterfinals and in the next couple of weeks. “It’s just a test of our depth because we lost ‘Juzzy’ [Cirillo] to a hamstring again and Jimmy Wells to an ankle on the weekend - I think they’re pretty much out which means we’ve lost a couple of key players.” Meanwhile, the senior women fell short in their clash 1-3, while the reserves had to forfeit.

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