UNBEATEN in five games and holding 13 of a possible 15 points, Sydenham Park has rocketed back into premiership calculations with an eye-catching month in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2.
The Reds did on Friday night what no other away team has managed to do all season: smash and grab three points off Westgate at a notoriously hard place to play – Ardeer Reserve.
Reds coach Sash Becvinovski was not getting too carried away with the 3-0 win, conceding the hosts were decimated by injuries and suspensions, but he lauded his players for their professionalism to get the result.
“It’s a tough place to play,” he told the Weekly of the ground referred to by visiting teams as the Ghetto.
“They had a depleted side, but I only worry about my team. They were there for the taking and we’ve taken the opportunity.”
The Reds were set on their way by a delightful strike from new recruit Ian Babusha.
Babusha unleashed from 30 metres out and gave the goalkeeper no chance. It was just the tonic for a night out for the Reds.
“We tend to start a bit flat sometimes; we’re slow starters,” Becvinovski said.
“Once we get a flash of brilliance, it picks the team up, and that was Ian’s goal. It lifted the side and we had that belief again that we could win this game.”
Babusha has been a revelation for the Reds this season.
After bouncing around for trials at higher league clubs, he finally found at home Keilor Lodge Reserve and hasn’t looked back.
The 19-year-old has netted five times and been an automatic selection since gaining a first term berth through injuries to key players.
“We had a fair chunk of players out and he took the opportunity to come up trumps,” Becvinovski said.
“[Babusha] is tall, he’s quick, he’s strong and, if he gets into good positions, he’ll score goals.”
Vasko Vasilevski, who has endured an injury-hit season, and Koce Delev also found the back of the net for the Reds.
But it was the work of goalkeeper Tommy Tomich and the defence of Steven Camilleri, Slave Bozinovski and Tony Stalevski that has impressed their coach in recent times.
“Our defence was solid, a clean sheet for the last three games and I’m very pleased with that,” Becvinovski said.
The Reds had moved up to fourth on the ladder by Saturday night.
