A 10-goal third-quarter onslaught helped St Albans secure its first Western Region Football League win for the season.
The Saints easily accounted for Wyndhamvale, with an 88-point margin at Kings Park Reserve.
Not everything went St Albans’ way, though, with the home side forced to fight hard during a tough first half.
Wyndhamvale was well in it before the main break, kicking four second-quarter goals to trail by just 20 points.
A reinvigorated St Albans outfit emerged at the resumption.
With Michael Spooner and Anthony Cristofaro providing strong targets up forward and Tim Jenkins winning loose and contested ball through the middle, the Saints found top gear.
St Albans had 22 scoring shots across the second half to seal its 20.15 (135) – 7.5 (47) win.
It was also the first win for coach Fabian Carelli, who took over at the Saints in the off season.
“We were all really excited with the performance and there was a bit of relief to get that first win, too,” he said.
“We said to the boys after the game, it had been a long time coming.
“We had been in all three games that we lost and we probably deserved at least one of those.
“We’ve got the win on the board now, which is great for the boys.”
Spooner finished the match as the Saints’ leading forward, booting five goals, while Cristofaro and Jenkins kicked three each.
Around the ground, Reece Panetas, Robert Nikolic and Matt Quigley were among key contributors for the winners.
Carelli said the win was set up during the second quarter when his side was kicking against the breeze. “We wasted opportunities in the first quarter when we were kicking with it,” he said.
“Then we came out and outscored them in the second quarter five goals to four. That really set the game up for us.
“We came in at half-time knowing that if we could continue to work hard and get things going right, it would come off for us.
“I didn’t expect us to get 10.6 [in the third quarter], but it was sensational.”
Despite the win, St Albans remains in eighth place on the WRFL division 1 ladder.
The Saints share a 1-3 record with Altona and Spotswood.
St Albans will take on Sunshine this week.
Elsewhere in division 1, Deer Park returned to the winners’ list with a hard-fought win against Spotswood; Hoppers Crossing smashed Altona and Werribee Districts proved too good for Albion.
