It rang true in the case of Goulburn Valley Suns, who couldn’t prise three points from a rigid Springvale White Eagles at home despite a Sean Grant rocket from range.
Grant’s lashed shot from 25 yards on the half hour cancelled out the host’s early opener and, though the Suns came at the White Eagles with hammer, tong and kitchen sink in the second half, the league’s best defensive side refused to budge.
But it’s not all bad.
The 1-1 draw hoists the Suns back inside the Victorian Premier League Two’s top six and, factoring in the conditions, coach Craig Carley was largely pleased with the final outcome.
“It was a really tough pitch to play on ... (it’s) probably the worst playing surface our boys have played on this season and the last couple of years,” Carley said.
“Going up against a good outfit in Springvale, a well-organised, well-drilled side that haven’t conceded many goals, I thought we were brilliant.
“We played on the front foot, created plenty of chances and were probably unlucky not to come away with the win in the end, on reflection of the game.”
Saturday drew the league’s third-best attacking side against the best defensive unit — by the stats, at least - on a notoriously choppy Serbian Sports Centre pitch.
Springvale started with a hiss and a roar, taking the ascendancy in the eighth minute as the ball bounced off Suns defender Stefan Pigatto for an own goal following a scramble in the box.
Though a goal down, the Suns began to chip away at the White Eagles’ backline.
At the 30-minute mark, the breakthrough arrived.
A flowing move saw the ball played out to the left from Callum Schorah, finding Grant, who cut inside his man and lashed a shot from range that wrong-footed the keeper and dipped in.
The stalemate continued to the half as the Suns’ rapid attacking waves were combated by Springvale’s refusal to bow, winning the bulk of first and second balls.
Carley said his side “went for the jugular” in the second half with five substitutions, one of which almost marked his Suns debut in sensational style.
Isaac Kwame Essel, a striker signed in the mid-season transfer window, had a goal chalked off and also forced a stunning stop from the White Eagles’ keeper and, though the Suns’ chance count bettered Springvale’s 15-5, Carley’s side had to settle for a point.
“The boys performed tremendously, we were unlucky not to get another goal in the end, but I still believe it was a well-deserved point, unlucky not to be three,” he said.
“It’s a tough place to go and a tough pitch to craft out those chances, but the boys are still fighting, they’re still believing.
“If we can stop conceding the goals we are and have a good push towards securing a spot in those playoffs, teams will be more worried to play against us than we are to play against anyone else.”
Next up for the Suns is Brunswick Juventus, sitting third on the ladder.
In the past two meetings with the Zebras, the Orangemen have conceded late penalties that have cost them the game.
It means 90 minutes of discipline is the minimal requirement for Saturday night.
“They’re a brilliant side who are fighting for those two spots out of the three teams that are up there at the moment,” Carley said.
“We expect a tough game against them like always; I felt in the first game we were slightly unlucky to come away and lose that game, I think it was a penalty in the last few minutes.
“We know our home form has to be spot on if we’re going to secure those playoff spots, so it’s equally important for us as it is for them.”
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