THE Warilla Wanderers were unsuccessful in their bid for back-to-back Football South Coast Illawarra District League titles, after they went down 1-0 to the Picton Rangers at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
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The loss means the Wanderers, despite making the past four grand finals, only have one premiership from their four appearances; a 3-1 victory over Helensburgh in last year's decider.
Picton's Dayne Morley was the lone goal-scorer on Saturday, nabbing the match winner in the first half after controlling the ball from a deflected shot by team-mate Ben Roberts.
Wanderers' coach Barney King was left disappointed with the result and couldn't single out a reason his side didn't click on the day.
"It was disappointing, it was really a dull old game and they scored early and then defended well, and we couldn't break them down at the back," King said.
"We just didn't create anything. The last month we've been scoring a lot of goals but we just couldn't get it together; maybe the occasion got to some of the guys or maybe it was the week off.
"I just can't put my finger on it."
While King said he and the players were "gutted" by the loss, he said the club still had plenty to be upbeat about.
"We've still got plenty to be buoyant about. We came second in the league and made the grand final in a year where we had a few retirements and a few blokes head off to the World Cup and things like that.
"This was our fourth straight grand final appearance and you can't complain about that. The club still has plenty to be confident about.
"If you'd come to me in the pre-season and when there were blokes retiring and said to me we'd finish second in the league and make the grand final, I would've taken it."
While the season is over, King said attention would now turn to the possibility of securing the Wanderers a promotion to the Premier League for 2015.
The Wanderers finished the season second behind Shell Cove, giving Shell Cove the first chance to seek promotion.
"At the moment we're focused on making a good submission in the hopes of promotion in case Shell Cove don't fit the criteria.
"I think the club can handle it. We're strong financially at the moment and in terms of recruitment I think we're in the position be competitive."