SHOALHAVEN Heads and Manyana managed to reap the full benefits of the long weekend double header, with both teams picking up six valuable competition points.
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The results see Heads move into second place on the table, while Manyana jumped into third as their top four counterparts Culburra and Bomaderry missed their chance for more points, with their Monday clash unable to be played due to poor pitch conditions.
Even the usually reliable pitch at Vic Zealand Oval was looking worse for wear on Monday, but Heads still managed to play on and snare a 1-nil win over Shoalhaven United.
Heads managed to slip under the radar in pre-season, but are now looking like a serious contender, with Culburra the only team they are yet to beat.
But their coach Ross Tasker has remained reluctant to talk his team up and feels they still have some work to do.
“I think we’ve been strong, without being great,” he said.
“There’s definitely still room for improvement in some areas,” he added.
Tasker said they face a really big challenge this weekend, when they take on Bomaderry at Bomaderry Oval.
“I rate them as a real danger team.
“We only just scraped past them last time, so this weekend will really test us.”
Manyana on the other hand were noted by almost every other coach as the team to beat and their last two results could be a good indication why.
After a bit of a rough patch in recent weeks, the Wanderers found their feet over the weekend with a 5-nil win over Illaroo, which was followed by a 6-nil drubbing against Basin.
Their coach Matt Tooley said he was stoked by their performances in the double-header.
“Obviously it’s a big turnaround for us,” he said.
“To have scored 11 goals and not concede any and to pick up six points all in one weekend is very pleasing.
“We’ve got our three main strikers firing now and I think our season has taken a big step in the right direction.”
This weekend Manyana play Shoalhaven United, who were hit hardest by the double-header with two losses.
Two teams on opposite ends of the scale will do battle when Huskisson hosts Culburra, while Illaroo and Basin will both be hoping for a confidence boosting win when they meet at Sharman Park.