FOOTBALL - NSW NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
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South Coast Wolves were left to lament another slow start for a 1-0 loss to Rockdale City Suns on Sunday.
Rockdale had the match winner inside five minutes after the Wolves let a goalkeeper clearance bounce in behind their defence.
Suns striker Nikola Taneski latched on to the skidding ball and had the simplest of finishes past Daniel Collison on a water-logged Ilinden Sports Centre.
It ensured the Wolves remain winless and bottom in the NPL NSW Men's 1 competition.
After the match, South Coast coach Richard Lloyd struggled to find his usual optimism.
"It is hard to always to look for things that are positive," Lloyd said.
"We played well in patches but it always seems when we are behind we try and rally.
"We need to get out of the blocks straight away and try and get that early goal."
After Taneski's goal the match turned into a midfield struggle, with the wet conditions contributing to a scrappy affair.
Sam Matthews had a chance graze at the Suns' crossbar on the half hour before the match descended into a defensive stoush in the second stanza.
The Suns eventually escaped with a 1-0 win, but for the Wolves it could all be rolled back to one careless moment in defence.
"It was not good enough. We have to attack the ball in the wet weather and not let it bounce," Lloyd said.
With the Wolves' upcoming schedule getting no easier, Lloyd was searching for a confidence boost within his squad.
"We need to look at playing out of the back and developing a bit more confidence in our players," Lloyd said.
"Instead of always when we are under the pump, going for longer versions of the ball, back your teammates, play the ball into them and support them.
"We went to one-out in the first half when there was pressure on.
"We have to be a bit more comfortable when teams are pressing us."