Lapses costly in West Preston-Lakeside’s first loss of Northern Football League season

CONSISTENCY remains a key issue for West Preston-Lakeside after it fell to its first loss of the NFL season against Northcote Park.

Brock McLennan of Northcote is sandwiched between two opponents during the NFL match between Northcote Park and West Preston-Lakeside played at Westgarth Street Oval on Saturday 23rd April, 2016. Picture: Mark Dadswell

CONSISTENTLY inconsistent.

Stringing performances together has been a major issue for West Preston-Lakeside in recent years and remains the side’s greatest conundrum.

After a fighting road win over Whittlesea in Round 1 and thumping victory over Lower Plenty, the Roosters came crashing back to earth against Northcote Park on Saturday.

The Cougars sealed a 17.11 (113) to 12.15 (87) win during a dominant final quarter, handing West Preston its first defeat of 2016.

Roosters coach Leigh Cole admitted his side still had work to do to match the competition’s top sides.

“I’m trying to get a gauge on where we’re at at the moment and I think that probably is where we’re at,” Cole said.

“Consistency has got to be our biggest issue. We need some improvement in our skills, which is something we identified during pre-season.

“But being able to play at a consistent level is what’s going either win games or lose games for us.”

Inaccuracy in front of goal came back to bite West Preston after it put 3.10 on the scoreboard in the opening half at Bill Lawry Oval.

While the home side also kicked 6.9, Cole said West Preston had enough chances to be closer than 17 points at the main break.

The Roosters dragged the margin back to nine points at three-quarter-time to open the door for a tilt at their third-straight win.

But the Cougars had other ideas and powered away in the opening 15 minutes of the final term to secure their second win of the year.

“I think we probably hurt ourselves a lot earlier in the game than the last quarter,” Cole said.

Mannon Johnston celebrates a goal during Northcote Park’s win. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

“We kicked 1.7 in the first quarter and came in a point down after having plenty of the ball in our forward half.

“In the second quarter we just kept making basic skill errors and turning the ball over and gave them the momentum through our own mistakes.”

Patrick Karnezis shone through the centre of the park and finished with four goals for West Preston.

Cole said the former Collingwood and Brisbane Lions forward was likely to be used more as a midfielder in coming weeks.

In other Division 1 results, Lower Plenty claimed an emotional 29-point win over Whittlesea, Bundoora beat Greensborough for the first time since 2013 and Eltham outgunned Montmorency.

In Division 2, Thomastown pipped Fitzroy Stars by five points and Hurstbridge hammered Panton Hill by 73.

Mernda and St Mary’s remain undefeated in Division 3.

Watsonia was the other winner on Saturday.