Wellington Phoenix women's coach Gemma Lewis has lamented her side's 3-2 defeat to Brisbane Roar, throwing away a two-goal lead with their first A-League victory within reach.
In a strong first half, the young side surprised even themselves with a 2-0 lead at Wollongong.
After Alyssa Whinham opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Grace Jale doubled the advantage in the 24th, to have the Kiwi club in the box seat.
But playing only the seventh game in the club's history, their inexperience told, allowing Brisbane to score three unanswered goals.
Mariel Hecher grabbed one back for the Roar before the break, while Larissa Crummer levelled the scores within seconds of the restart.
Even at 2-2 in the final stages, eyeing a draw and their second competition point of the year, the Phoenix conceded the decider to Katrina Gorry from the penalty spot and left the pitch empty-handed for their sixth consecutive defeat.
Lewis says that the inexperience among the players - many of whom are still in their teens - made a difference, with her side unused to holding a winning position.
"I think, at halftime, they looked more petrified than when they were 5-0 down at halftime," Lewis says. "They're still learning, and they haven't experienced being up and the expectation to get something out of this game.
"When we went 2-0 up, the playing started to get a little bit more tense - it started to get rushed, it started to get hectic.
"It didn't feel like we were 2-0 up, It felt like we were down almost."
The nature of the defeat has left some players shouldering what they feel is the responsibility for the loss.
"A couple of the girls are really upset by it, feeling responsible, feeling like they lost the game for the team." says Lewis.
Defeat leaves the Phoenix rooted to the bottom of the competition table, sitting 10th, with just a solitary point from their seven matches - and eight points away from the top four.
Their quest for a maiden win continues on Monday, when they travel to face Adelaide United.
