Gunnedah FC coach Andy Cygan felt they were unlucky to not pick up their first points of the season with a piece of individual brilliance denying them a possible draw against North Companions on Saturday.
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After conceding an own goal in the first half, FC got back on level terms in the second half, Boyd McCormack getting his back heel to a free kick into the box from Mitch Harding.
But North Companions wrested back the momentum almost immediately with Cody Thompson spectacularly nailing one from about 30m out.
One for the highlights reel, Cygan said not many keepers would have saved it.
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He said they didn't really have any chances after that to at the least snaffle a draw, although across the game they certainly had enough possession, and probably "enough chances", to win it.
But again they struggled a bit up front.
"We're still adjusting to playing a different formation," Cygan said.
"We're just playing with one striker to be a bit more defensive."
"It's why we've managed to keep the scores down."
"But it's not allowing us to create many opportunities."
Drawing the three old premier league clubs first-up, Cygan's plan was to try and limit the scores while they find their feet, and then play a bit more of an attacking style against the sides they are more familiar with - at least for the first round.
He said on Saturday they again showed a lot of fight and character, and there were a lot of positives to take away.
"We're defending really well. We're not getting easy goals put past us," he said.
"We just need someone else up there (front) with Rob Pryor to give him a hand."
He said the whole back four were really good for them on Saturday. David Silver also again impressed Cygan.
"He's been outstanding so far the three games," he said.
Saturday also gave him his real look at Harding, who has joined the club this season.
"It was good to see him," Cygan said.
"He's admitted he is a little bit off at the moment, but he just needs game time at the moment and training."
Reserve grade meanwhile got up 5-4 to make it back-to-back wins, although they were a bit lucky.
Up 5-2 with about half an hour to play they just managed to hold on.
