Mackay and Whitsundays fighting for survival in NPL bottom-table scrap

Expectations on the season have changed after steady early-season form has dipped, leaving the Magpies Crusaders eight points from safety.

Magpies Crusaders coach Tom Ballantyne (from left) answers questions with Aaron Kidmas. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Expectations on the season have slightly shifted for the Magpies Crusaders, after poor performances have plagued the side.

Mackay and Whitsundays is languishing at the bottom of the table; just three points ahead of Brisbane Strikers with just two wins on the season.

Magpies Crusaders coach Tom Ballantyne said the long-term goals remained the same, but for the rest of the season the side was focused on survival.

“Our short-term goals, they’ve changed now in terms of wanting to stay out of the relegation zone and stay in the NPL for next season,” he said.

“What we’ve been trying to speak about is performance level, because that has dropped.”

No extra help will arrive in Mackay, with the transfer window closed until the end of the season.

“We’re going to keep working on what we’ve been doing, we can’t bring any new guys in,” Ballantyne said.

“It’s about working on the guys we’ve got, upskilling what we’re doing with the players we’ve got and try to keep finding any weakness or flaw we can spot in our opposition.”

Despite the recent struggles for the side, Ballantyne said he had seen promising signs.

“Against Brisbane we didn’t perform how we wanted to, in the first half against the Knights wasn’t the performance we wanted but in the second half we pressed higher up the field and caused problems,” he said.

“That’s the level of output against better opposition that will eventually lead to draws or snag a point against good teams.”