Early pre-season fuels Surf Coast FC’s success

SURF Coast FC men’s team has adjusted to its new competition superbly after being promoted.

The second-ranked Coasters have seven wins from nine matches in the State League Men’s 3 North-West competition.

They play Epping City away tomorrow (Saturday, May 31) at 3pm after beating Laverton 2-1 at home last weekend in Round 9.

Senior coordinator Tom Langman shared his thoughts on why the team had made such a smooth transition.

“We started pre-season very early, we started back in November and I think we’ve been able to keep that group together.

“And a lot of that goes down to the players and the coaches and all the work they’ve done in that pre-season period.

“We won our first five games and that really set us up for this position we’re in at the moment.”

While the Coasters appear to be thriving, Langman said the competition was a step up from last season.

“As we found out, this year, if we don’t have a good game, we get punished for it.”

Their only loss came against fifth-placed Brunswick Zebras, 5-1, on May 3.

“It was probably our worst performance for the season and they capitalised on that,” Langman said.

“They were clinical in front of goal and being at their home ground, they played the conditions to their advantage.”

Despite an interrupted pre-season, John Pykett has scored the most goals in the league with 12.

Langman said Pykett broke his ankle last year before returning late in the season and suffering a serious foot injury.

“He only really returned probably three weeks before the start of the year, but he’s been our top goal scorer the last two seasons and he’s continued that form this year.”