CINCINNATI – A feeling of frustration hung in the FC Cincinnati locker room on Saturday evening as the side’s winless streak in the USL reached four games after a 2-0 defeat to Orlando City B in front of a crowd of 19,310 fans at Nippert Stadium.  

Also now without a win on home turf since the club’s emphatic home opener victory against Saint Louis FC almost a month ago, players tried to put a silver lining on a performance that saw the hosts finish with only three shots on goal, and complete fewer passes that their visitors.

“I was disappointed,” said center back Harrison Delbridge. “Aside from the fact that we hate losing, we hate for that to happen in front of our incredible fans.

“At the same time, we have so many games ahead of us in the season. The last thing we need to do is to get bogged down right now.”

RELATED: Orlando Silences 19,310 at Cincinnati

For its part, OCB came out aggressively and more than held its own in the opening half. Regular midfield presence Richie Laryea and Tony Rocha provided major bite in the center of the part that helped disrupt Cincinnati’s flow.

Rocha in particular put together a tremendous performance that helped Orlando control the majority of possession, while Laryea linked play well as OCB looked to get out on the break, completing 17-of-18 passes as he and Pierre Da Silva provided the attacking threat for the visitors. With Da Silva was brought down with 15 minutes to go for a penalty kick, it felt decisive, while Laryea’s stoppage-time goal made its four games without a defeat for Orlando.

“I thought it was a fantastic away performance for our boys,” said OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis. “We had to defend at times due to the environment and the pressure they put you under but I felt like our counterattack was dangerous. I’m proud of the boys to perform the way that they did tonight.”

As Orlando moved up the Eastern Conference standings, Cincinnati now sits in eighth place with a number of teams ready to take advantage of the games in hand they have on the club. With a home game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night against AFC Cleveland followed by a clash with a Bethlehem Steel FC side that has proven a nemesis so far this season, the upcoming seven days appear crucial in the direction of the season as a whole.

“For me, it’s trying to stay positive and on track with the process,” said FCC captain Austin Berry. “Many of us have been playing long enough that we know if you stay on track and get the ball to bounce your way a few times, it can change your attitude and the course of things.”