“I believe in them all”: Mosman coach Tinker says players primed ahead of big game at Narrabeen

MPL MV vs Mosman19Sep2020-5143

After a bright start to the season in which they were running second behind powerful CC Strikers, Mosman has slumped to sixth on the MWFA Premier League ladder following three consecutive losses.
Mosman coach Luke Tinker told MWFA Media he would prefer not to say too much ahead of this week’s match with Narrabeen at Narrabeen High. And then he did anyway.
“All I will say is that we’ve lost three in a row after a really strong start. (In the then top-of-the-table clash) CC strikers were the better team on the day and deserved the points. But to be 1-nil up with 15 minutes to go against Wakehurst and 2-1 up and looking comfortable against Saints last week, also with fifteen to go – and to lose both games and drop 6 points we are of course disappointed.
“But you learn and move on. We have an honest, resilient and hard-working group of players. And I believe in every single one of them. We had a fantastic (4-1) result Tuesday night in the Challenge Cup versus Curly (at Abbott Road) with a mix of first grade and reserve players. So we take confidence from that performance into Saturday,” Tinker said.
Tinker said the club “is in a terrible position injury-wise” and that “sometimes you need a little bit of luck”.
“But some of our younger, reserve grade players – James Mulder, Seb Bellew, Pieter Bas Dalebout, Rory Martin – have been stepping up to first grade and been outstanding,” Tinker said.
Asked about his opponents on Saturday, Tinker admitted he didn’t know a lot.
“I do know Narrabeen have a strong squad and are always competitive in both grades. But all I can go off is our games last season and we picked up six points over two matches. So we are hoping we can repeat that Saturday,” Tinker said.
Narrabeen is also welcoming players back from injury and suspension and is also buoyed by a win in the MWFA Cup on Tuesday night; in their case 2-0 over Seaforth at Seaforth Oval.
“As a squad everyone has been training well and performing,” Narrabeen coach Ross Talarico said. “That was shown on Tuesday night when we had quite a few players from the Ressies making their 1st grade debuts.
“We are slowly getting players back from injuries and suspensions, they’ve crippled us in the last few weeks. We’re not yet at full strength but it will be good to have a face or two back.”
Talarico admitted his side’s form over the last month has been patchy with glimmers of sunshine. “We’ve been okay, not great,” he said. “We know what we can produce on the field. It’s a matter of giving it the polish it deserves come game day.
“We’re in for a big game against Mosman who boast a strong backline with James Bell, a midfielder in Finn Mack who plugs the holes and Jordan Perkins who creates chances in the top third. I expect they’ll hit us on counter-attack.
“But in the end all we can do is turn up and be ready for battle. We know where we want to be at season’s end and these upcoming matches are crucial to achieving those goals at the end of the season.”

In other games Curl Curl hosts Seaforth at Abbott Road BTH Raiders take on Brookvale at Wyatt Reserve, Saint Augustine’s play Harbord at Grahams Reserve while Wakehurst takes on top-of-the-table CC Strikers at Lionel Watts.

By Matt Cleary

whistle-icon-200px

Notice board

Find updates on each club and positions available.

soccer-ball-icon-black

Searching for Clubs?

Find clubs, club contacts, field locations and more in our clubs directory. 

Get social

Upcoming Events