The local side went into the Division 2 Bendigo Amateur Soccer League match with high hopes, but ultimately lost five goals to three.
Wanderers coach Mark Plant said it was another good game for his side, but the first result this season that could be seen as “one that got away”.
“It was a positive game for us,” he said.
“Every game this season we’ve improved, but it was probably the first one where, afterwards, we thought we probably should’ve won that one.
“We walked off happy with how we played, similar to our other games, but unusually disappointed with the result.”
The frustration in the result can be attributed to the team’s inability to take their scoring chances.
“We’ve been struggling to create them this season, but this time, we just didn’t take them.
“We probably had 15 to 20 chances but only scored three, whereas they had around eight chances and scored five.”
The Wanderers’ opponents did make it a hard-fought contest, Plant said, but the Deni team couldn’t finish their hard work.
“Not taking anything away from Golden City though, they defended really hard and made it hard to score.
“We were down two to three at half-time and, once again, we gave away an easy penalty under pressure and missed a few chances under pressure up the other end.
“In the second half, we dominated possession.
“We’re just missing the final product, a lack of finishing, which is not the worst problem to have.”
Plant said match practice is the best way to improve shooting, with some of the team’s senior players leading the way.
“We’re starting to get more chances. We’ve done lots of finishing practice at training, but it’s difficult to replicate that match experience.
“The goal scorers were Bruce Maunganidze with two and myself with one.
“We threw ourselves forward, and it was nice for some of the old boys to show the younger players how it’s done.”
“I’ll give a shout out to Ian Gray, who is a young player for us.
“This week he put his hand up for the centre-back position and played an outstanding game.
“I think after that kind of performance it’ll be hard to change that position, and it’s his if he really wants it.”
The Wanderers are on the road again this weekend for round nine, against the second-placed Strathfieldsaye Colts.
The Colts beat the Wanderers five to nil when the teams played each other in round three.
Plant said he hopes to see improvement from his team from the last fixture between the two sides.
“It is a good chance to see where we’re at by playing them in the return fixture.
“If we keep them to less than five goals, we’ll be happy.”
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