Coming off the back of a stalemate the previous week against Altona City the Shepparton side was presented with the opportunity to send out a statement of intent, with ladder pacesetter Malvern in the midst of a downturn in fortunes.
The current premiership frontrunner slipped to a third consecutive defeat in round 17, falling to a 4-2 loss at the hands of third-placed Essendon Royals in a major blow to its title aspirations.
With torrential rain having fell in the Goulburn Valley during the week, the surface at McEwen Reserve proved tasking for both teams on Saturday evening and it was the visitors who first made the breakthrough.
During a dogged first half, Tyreke Johnson fired the Melbourne outfit into a one-goal lead after 26 minutes, leaving the Suns with work to do.
When his players returned to the dressing room at the interval, the hosts’ coach Craig Carley impressed upon his troops the need to stick to their game and to wait for opportunities to emerge.
“We were under the pump in the first half and didn’t really come out to the races,” he said.
“I think the Lions wanted it a bit more first half and it was the perfect opportunity to get into the changing rooms at half-time and reset.
“We changed our formation and went man-for-man in the midfield as they were playing a 4-4-2 diamond – so it just kept us a bit more accountable and the players more clear in their roles.
“The boys came out galvanised in the second half and with a renewed energy.”
Almost instantly the Suns produced a response, as Bryan Nyetam-Mawo drew proceedings level in the 54th minute to set up a grandstand tussle for all three points on home turf.
From there the momentum swung the way of the boys in the navy blue as persistence paid off with Kentaroh Ohi putting one in his own net moments later as the Lions fell behind for the first time.
Carley demonstrated his tactical acumen during the remainder of the tussle, making five substitutes during the final half-hour as he successfully guided his charges to a crucial 2-1 win.
“We came out second half and scored twice very quickly – we were playing on the front foot,” the manager said, reflecting on a true squad effort en route to victory.
“It looked like there was only one team pushing for victory in that second half – we knew if we could get a goal, we could get another.
“We know they’re a good side with a new coach and they’re battling obviously, so I’m super proud of the boys.
“We know when we stick to our game plan and play with courage we can beat absolutely anyone.”
Next up, the Suns will travel 200km to face Keilor Park in Melbourne in round 18 of the VPL 2 on June 20, with kick-off from 3pm.
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