Illawarra coach Graham Shaw is lamenting a luckless double-header weekend which saw the Stingrays slide to the foot of the competition.
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The 2013 runners-up were defeated by Manly United (Saturday) and Marconi Stallions (Sunday) at Collegians Sports Ground, with disallowed goals and denied penalty shouts marring both fixtures.
They were beaten 3-2 by United and 2-1 by Marconi.
Shaw said the results were disappointing given his side had put in two strong performances.
‘‘We dominated both games, so to come away with no points was really hard to take,’’ Shaw said.
‘‘The 50-50s didn’t go our way and some of the obvious ones weren’t called, but that’s football.
‘‘You are not going to get every decision.’’
The Stingrays had two goals denied by borderline offside calls in the second half against the Stallions, after Marconi had led 2-0 at half-time.
Michelle Carney gave Illawarra hope of a resurgence when she finished from close range but it seemed luck wouldn’t be on their side for the second straight day.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Illawarra had clawed their way back to 2-2 against Manly with goals to Caitlin Cooper and Jordan Baker before United scored a contender for goal of the season directly from the kick-off to move back in front.
It proved enough to claim the three points and saw the Stingrays fall to below both Football NSW Institute and the Stallions on the ladder.
‘‘We knew the break would hurt us and it would take a couple of weeks to get back on our feet, so that is the heartbreaking point of the weekend. We did play good football and we are looking to get ourselves back up the table but sometimes things don’t go your way,’’ Shaw said.
‘‘But we know we are playing good football and the girls took confidence out of the weekend even though we didn’t come out and get anything.’’
The Stingrays have the chance to get immediate revenge on Manly when the pair meet again this Sunday in round nine.