Box Hill United defender Emma Littlewood has outlined the three things that her side need to develop in order to get back into winning positions: consistency, confidence and concentration.
The three C’s were in intermittent supply in their 3-0 loss to Alamein FC on the weekend, ironically in a game where the three C’s of Cristina Cardaci and Larissa Crummer made their debuts for the opposition.
Concentration was bereft as Box Hill fell to just a second minute deficit to a Melina Ayres strike, while confidence floated in and out from the side who are now four games without a win.
They were however, for the most part, a match for Alamein FC but two more slips saw Ayres afforded space and time to score two wonder goals to seal the result.
Littlewood signalled performance inconsistencies from her side throughout the 90 minute affair as a key area for improvement, as they conceded goals at inopportune moments.
She indicated that the ability for the playing group to keep their heads is something coach Bob McGuinness is trying to instil despite the results.
“We’ve been inconsistent,” Littlewood assessed.
“Today was about struggling to pull it together in the important moments, we switched off in key times and got three goals that made it look like more of a comfortable win than it actually was.
“So it’s just the consistency and the concentration is what Bobby’s told us to change.”
If the club can eliminate those lapses from their game, Littlewood believes the strength of the squad will shine through, as wins against Southern United and Bayside United, as well as a draw and clean sheet against Calder United, provide evidence that they can play consistent football.
“I think we really matched [Alamein] for a lot of the game,” she said.
‘They’re a really good side so when we cough up [the ball] and make mistakes, they punish us straight away. We’ve just got to play smarter and play the full game out without lapses of concentration.
“There are definitely things to learn but we can be positive about the patches of play that we did play well in. There’s definitely things we can take out of it and things we can learn from today.
“I think it’s confidence and concentration; we’re more than capable of [winning games]. I don’t think it was a 3-0 type game so if we iron out our mistakes, we’re in for a real good shot at any team in the competition.”
Littlewood made the move from Boroondara Eagles in 2015, after spending a stint overseas towards the back end of the season.
She’s been one of their better performers throughout the first few months of the NPLW campaign and was complementary of the playing environment that the coach, players and off-field staff have created, and will be hoping to see results follow suit.
“I love Box Hill. I came across at the start of the year and the girls are extremely welcoming and really fun to be around.
“Unfortunately we haven’t gotten the results we think we’re capable of but there’s still a really good feeling about the group and we feel like we can do better. It’s a great club to be that.”
Feature Image: Rachel Bach