Cotter says City not getting rub of green
SOCCER
Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING his side’s 4-0 defeat to Bray Wanderers last Saturday afternoon in the U19 Southern Elite Division, Cork City coach Cormac Cotter felt the final scoreline wasn’t a true reflection on the game.
City had a number of opportunities to break the deadlock before Luke Rossiter’s 51st-minute opener for Bray, but following some sloppy defending, the Leesiders allowed the hosts to finish with a flourish.
“4-0 isn’t a fair reflection of the game by any means. Unfortunately, you had a penalty, two or three great chances in the first half.
“We’re just in that position at the moment that we just can’t seem to score goals, we just can’t get that break,” Cotter remarked.
“Obviously we’re in a fragile position then mentally when the first goal went in, a deflection from nothing. You’re a goal down, and unfortunately we’re in that position at the moment, fellas are finding it difficult.
“Heads went down a bit, and unfortunately then we conceded three more sloppy goals.”
It could have been an entirely different game if City midfielder Ross Welch had converted a sixth-minute penalty, though, and Cotter admitted that luck is deserting them in front of the opposition goal at the moment.
“By far we were the better team in the first-half, should have been two or three up at least at half-time. Then a shot deflected and you’re a goal down.
Hit crossbar
“We kind of struggled from there, and even at that, we still hit the crossbar, hit the post and two cleared off the line.
“We can’t seem to buy a goal at the moment, unfortunately.”
With four losses on the bounce in the league since their July 9 win over Wexford FC, it has been a frustrating few weeks for the City squad. However, Cotter is confident that they can get back to their best very soon, and also added that there are players who will return to the fold in the near future.
“One of these days it will just click for us, and I’ve no doubt we’re capable of scoring three or four past another team on any day really.
“At the moment, we’re just finding it hard to just put the ball in the net. If we can just do that, I think it will definitely change things for us.
“We’ve another one or two to come back.
“What’s there at the moment, we don’t have a problem with that quality.
“It’s just unfortunate at the moment, they just can’t seem to get that rub of the green that you need in games at times,” Cotter added.