Stingrays coach Brett Wallin believes Sunday’s defeat to Manly United was a wake up call for his squad, but insists they have no reason to panic.
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Illawarra went into the weekend unbeaten in their past five matches, but couldn’t stick with an impressive Manly outfit in a 4-1 loss at Cromer Park.
“I don’t think we are far away but it was a bit of a wake up call in terms of where we need to be a bit smarter or with what we are doing when we play in certain conditions,” Wallin said.
“I don’t want to make excuses but we do struggle a bit on artificial pitches as one of the few clubs in the league that play on grass.
“It’s the biggest in the league up at Manly and we didn’t cope too well on it.
“We are not panicking about it, but we did learn some lessons.”
Illawarra had been well and truly in the contest until half time after striker Emma Rolston cancelled out Ally Green’s goal for United.
But Manly piled on the pressure in the second half and capitalised from several set piece situations to score three more in the second stanza.
Alice Wilson, Isabella Walker and Remy Siemsen all hit the back of the net for the hosts.
“They were very good,” Wallin said.
“We didn’t use the space well on the big pitch and they cut us up a bit out wide at times. They really stretched us.
“We stayed with them in the first half and were really in the grind. In the second half they got away from us. They are extremely good on corners and took their chances.”
The result helped Manly jump Illawarra on the ladder into third spot, with the Rays slipping to fourth.
Illawarra host Blacktown Spartans next weekend.