Exeter has edged closer to the top half of the men’s premier league ladder.
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The team secured a 6-2 win against Hill Top Green on Saturday, and moved to sixth spot on the ladder.
Exeter coach Sean Elphick said the result spoke volumes about the players’ efforts during training.
“Other than a couple of defensive lapses, I thought that we were much stronger in that area this week,” he said.
“We've made a couple of tweaks to our formation as well as personnel and it seems to be working.”
Exeter’s Brad Johnson contributed to the team’s result with a good individual goal while Dean Elphick left the team in good hands with a strong defence performance.
Matthew Johnson played well in the middle of the park, and came up with a couple of good assists.
Elphick said considering the structure of the competition, he was satisfied with the team’s ranking.
“Of more concern to me is making sure that the teams plays to both our strengths and our potential,” Elphick said.
“This isn't something that we always do.
“There have been a couple of games where the results have been disappointing and this has come about mainly due to poor execution on our part.”
Elphick said the highlight of the game was the way the team defended itself at half-time.
We've made a couple of tweaks to our formation as well as personnel and it seems to be working.
- Exeter coach Sean Elphick
“I thought the way we responded when the scores became even at two-all was excellent,” he said.
“We could have let a lot of good work go to waste at that stage but we kicked on and scored a further four goals to finish with a score line that probably reflected the run of play.”
In another premier league fixture, Yerinbool Black held onto its number three spot with a 4-0 win over Mittagong.
Yerinbool Black coach Rob Miller said while the team retained its spot, it was an average performance.
“We’re creating a lot of chances,” Miller said.
“From a skill point of view, [Mittagong] fought hard and played hard.
“We probably have more ability across the [field].”
Miller said the team’s overall goal was to get through the end of the season without dropping behind in its ranking.
“If we knock over Moss Vale [in the number one spot] and Hill Top White [number two], our goal difference will put us in good stead,” Miller said.
Miller said Axel Friedrich stood out for his consistency throughout the game.
There were several changes to the ladder in round 13.
Moss Vale, Hill Top White and Yerinbool Black have held onto the top three positions on the ladder, while Marulan and Yerinbool Green reached the fourth and fifth spot to make up the top half.
Exeter, Bowral, Hill Top Green, Mittagong and Robertson rounded out the rest of the ladder with its respective performances.