by Nick Tither

The Nathan Verri Dragons suffered their second loss of the season against top of the table Marlin Coast on Saturday evening.

The Dragons, chasing three points in slippery conditions at Pennel Field in Trinity Beach, were out to prove they were capable of competing with the top side, and started the match very positively scoring immediately from the kick off.
 
Matty Smith found Jamie Gosling out wide on the right, and not for the first time this season, Gosling found too much time and space and picked out Daniel Bateman whose deft header nestled into the far post. A great start by the Dragons, and another great piece of link up play between Bateman and Gosling. But the lead was short-lived.

Minutes later, sloppy midfield tracking from the Dragons resulted in unmarked Marlin Coast midfielder, Steven Dunn, making no mistake from just inside the box to bring the game square much to the delight of a vocal local crowd.

As the game wore on both sides began to open up, and on a lovely pitch conducive to good football they endeavoured to produce a possession based game and it became an end-to-end affair.
 
The Dragons again found themselves in front after some expansive football deep into the Marlin Coast half. Gosling was heavily involved in the build up, linking up with Perry McIlroy at left back, and his fantastic cross found an unmarked Gosling who had held his run at the far post who made no mistake.
 
Much to the Dragons disappointment it was a lead that didn’t last long. Marlin Coast were awarded a free-kick out wide, and their dangerous free-kick found an unmarked Lewis Ehrlich whose header was a carbon copy of Bateman’s first goal and nestled into the far post giving keeper Christian Mackintosh no chance.

At half time the Dragons were confident of coming out and securing all three points. They talked about concentrating, keeping the ball, and being aware of the wind now coming directly towards their goal. They came out and started strongly and were again rewarded with the lead.

Gosling was proving to be a real handful, and having beaten a couple of defenders on the edge of the box he finished with class at the far post to put the Dragons ahead for the third time in the match. However, it would prove to be the last time.

Marlin Coast had changed their system, and the Dragons struggled to come to grips with the 3-5-2 formation, and subsequently never managed to get a stronghold on the second half.

Marlin Coast’s equaliser was again from a set piece which will be of real concern to the Dragons. Failure to clear their lines resulted in the equaliser as again Ehrlich was left with too much time and space in the area after a far post header came back across goal. This goal proved to be the catalyst for the Marlin Coast side to pile on the pressure.
 
Marlin Coast striker Mqondisi Nkiwane somehow found himself in behind the Dragons' back four and one on one with keeper Mackintosh and showed some real composure to go past the keeper sending the ball into an empty net, and the crowd into delight as Marlin Coast went ahead for the first time.
 
Shell-shocked, the Dragons never recovered and a bizarre decision from Mackintosh to pick up a back pass meant again the Dragons' goal was under pressure from a set piece.

Once again the Dragons didn’t defend well, and left Alec Mortimer too much space to pick his spot which was helped by a deflection off a Douglas player leaving Mackintosh no chance, and the Dragons struggling to fire.

The match finished 5-3 to Marlin Coast to keep them at the top of the league. The Dragons will be looking to bounce back against Edge Hill on May 16 in a catch up match away.

With a bit of time off the Dragons will look to get everybody fit, and are looking forward to Ollie Ward and Bateman returning 100 per cent fit as both were struggling with niggles.