However, Wanderers coach Mark Plant said the scoreboard was misleading, not accurately registering the game being a tight tussle.
“It was one of those games where the score doesn’t really tell the full story,” he said.
“The first half was a bit of a stalemate with their one goal to half-time coming from a mistake out of our defensive end and one nasty bounce which got past our keeper.
“At half-time it was one-nil.
“They weren’t troubling us down our end, with the first 15 minutes of the second half much the same.
“Their second goal came from a penalty, which was a bit cheap but we can’t be making those tackles in the box.“
Following the second goal, Plant challenged his charges to step up.
The innovative approach to the game risked a few goals, but Plant said with some work it should be worthwhile later in the season.
“I instructed the team to play out from the back and we pressed up.
“I also put some of our defenders up front, which was a learning experience.
“It cost us three goals, but it is a cheap price to pay.
“Learning to play out from the back will be worth a few goals which won’t hurt us this early in the season. I’ll wear that as coach.
“We could have stayed as we were, but it would’ve been a stalemate. It’s better to have a crack.”
Plant said the weekend’s match was highlighted by exceptional play from a few players, including some returning players to the club.
“Players’ player went to Bruce Maunganidze for his play all day. And shout out to Ben Currie and Jon Haig who have returned to the club well after a bit of time off.“
This weekend the Wanderers are scheduled to take on the Echuca-Moama-based Border Raiders from 2pm Sunday.
It should be a good test for the Deni side, Plant said.
“It should be a good game. It’s always been pretty close between the two clubs.
“They have a similar play style to us and I think we’re in a similar phase as clubs.
“I’ll look for us to continue to be defensive and a bit more creative up forward.”
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