Ballarat drew nil-all with Goulburn Valley Suns in NPL2 West Vic.

Even though they took away one point, the Navy Blues believed it was a lost opportunity.

Coach Danny Gnjidic has no doubt it should have been a win and three points.

City FC had by far the most possession – especially in the second half – but was unable to finish many promising build-ups.

If was a frustrating day all round for the coach.

While Gnjidic was close to the action, he was forced to watch on from outside the fence owing to a one-match ban incurred the previous week.

Tony Clayworth stood in for Gnjidic, while there was no shortage of mobile phone conversations between Gnjidic and City’s technical director Michael Busija on the bench as they worked to find an opening in the Suns’ defence.

The longer the match went on, the more likely this looked like happening as Ballarat earned a string of free kicks within striking distance of goal as Goulburn Valley struggled to keep the home team at bay.

One of City’s best chances came on 61 minutes when the Suns were penalised for handball just centimetres outside the box.

Unfortunately, Michael Trigger sprayed the free kick high over the bar.

Ballarat kept pressing and had another two close-range shots on goal on 88 minutes, only to be denied.

Trigger led City FC’s early charge when the match was at its tightest, with his pace giving Goulburn Valley no end of trouble.

With a breeze at his back, Trigger also tried several speculative long range shots.

Dom Swinton was a constant headache up front for the Suns as he pressed forward, combining with Nelson Salvatore and Jake Fraser with great effect the further the match progressed. Josh Romein and David King were rock solid at the back.

Ballarat is on four points after five rounds and has dropped to seventh.

Gnjidic said despite missing out on a win, there was to like about the way the players had responded to a disappointing heavy loss a week earlier.