THEY created chances, they showed improved transition and they defended sternly, but the Western NSW Mariners still walked off Proctor Park on Saturday night with nothing to show for their efforts.
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In what coach Mark Rooke described as the 'the most gut-wrenching' loss for his men thus far in 2019, the Mariners went down 1-0 to National Premier Leagues 3 rivals Camden.
Both teams went into the contest desperate for a positive result with just two wins apiece over the 10 previous rounds.
Rooke felt his men had done enough work to earn at least a draw, but a 68th minute goal to Camden's Mitchell Brooker handed the visitors the honours.
"They had a bit of brilliance in the second half from one guy. He just rolled one of our defenders inside and took an early shot. It just happened to lob the keeper and go in," he said.
The Mariners lost Josh Ward 25 minutes into Saturday night's match with a hamstring injury - a reoccurring problem which has plagued him throughout the season.
Though missing the stability that Ward brings to the line up, the Mariners adjusted and still created chances from set pieces, but for the third time this season, they were unable to find the back of the net.
"It was ... the most gut-wrenching [loss] considering we'd played well."