Melton’s up and down season continued with a loss to ECHO on Saturday in Hockey Victoria men’s premier league 3.
The Mustangs were hoping to take the points against ECHO, a side sitting in a comparable ladder position.
Instead, ECHO took the points with a 2-0 victory to ensure it stayed above the Mustangs.
Speaking before the game, Mustangs coach Glenn Lawrence said it had been a mixed season so far.
“Last year, we had a building season and this year, we’re a bit stronger,” he said. “When we play the top half of the ladder, we move down, and when we play the bottom half, we move up the ladder.
“We’re focusing on what we can control and look to be competitive with all sides.”
Lawrence said that when playing the top sides, a more defensive approach was needed – something the Mustangs are working on at training.
The Mustangs are fourth on the ladder, 16 points behind the ladder leaders, undefeated Old Melburnians.
The two sides will face each other on July 9 after a competition bye this week.
The Mustangs are also nine points clear of fifth place.
“We try to be more defensive against the bigger teams,” Lawrence said.
“It’s always hard to play against teams which have come down from higher grades, like Old Melburnians.
“We don’t lack in attack and are free-flowing – we don’t have troubles with that. We are working on man marking and making sure that when we have the ball we are able to hold it.”
Lawrence said the Mustangs’ challenge was to make sure they were matching it with the sides in similar ladder positions, such as Bayside and ECHO.
“I think, as a team the players are gelling a lot better across the board and have stepped it up,” he said.
The Mustangs reserves side sits on top of its ladder despite a 2-2 draw against ECHO on Saturday.
Lawrence said the reserves line-up was more experienced than the first team.
“The first team is more about youth and the future, while the second team is more about age and experience,” he said.
“They are more than capable and won the grand final last year.”
The Mustangs women side had a 3-0 win against bottom side Gippsland Bulls at Bellbird Park in Drouin.
The win ensures the fourth-placed Mustangs maintain their eight-point gap over the chasing pack.
The women reserves side also had a good win over the Bulls, winning 4-1.
