Westside Strikers are focused on the task as hand as the race for promotion in the FV state league 4 west competition is set to go down to the wire.
With six rounds remaining, there are four teams that are in contention for the one promotion spot.
Teams that finish second to sixth stay in state league 4 next season while all the other remaining teams either drop one or two divisions with a new structure coming in.
Balmoral and Melton Phoenix are among the other teams in the top four.
After a loss on the weekend to Point Cook, the Strikers sit in fourth spot.
Coach Simon Vasconcelo knows they can’t afford any slip ups in the run home.
“It’s pretty much that way,” he said. “We want to be promoted and with the games left, there is definitely something to play for.
“We’re glad we’re competing at the top end.”
The Strikers shot back into promotion calculations with a hard fought win against local rival Melton Phoenix in its previous match, which was on top of the ladder at the time.
The win 1-0 makes it just four points between the top four sides after 15 rounds. Bell Park, which is in fourth, has played one less match though.
“For us to get the three points, it was a must to stay in the mix,” he said. “It was a good contest between two good teams.
“There wasn’t much between us and it was one goal the difference and we were lucky it was for us.”
Vasconcelo said they have a tough four week period coming up as they face three sides in the top half of the competition.
He said if they can pull together some good results there it will leave them in a good place.
“If we can get across the line in those run of games, hopefully we’ll be in a good position to finish off the last three games.”
Vasconcelo said like every side they had a few injuries here and there, while it was that time of year that the yellow cards start to add up.
“We still have enough players to get the job done,” he said. “The guys are really enjoying the challenge and staying focused.
“We’re taking it one game at a time.”
The Strikers faced Point Cook on Saturday, after deadline.
Vasconcelo said the Jets were a pretty strong side and it wouldn’t be an easy game.
“We will put our best foot forward and we’ve got a chance.”
