You know you are now in for a contest when you face Westvale in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2.
Just ask ladder-leader Altona City, who had to fight tooth and nail to leave McKechnie Reserve with a 2-0 win on Saturday.
“Considering the youthful team we have and playing low budget players, we really gave a hard time to the team which is on top of the ladder,” a proud Vales coach Srecko Baresic-Nikic said.
“They play on a higher budget, they’re doing really well and most of the teams are losing to them, but it was a very equal game.”
Westvale were the whipping boys of the league before Baresic-Nikic took over as coach.
The Vales were hammered in their opening three games, conceding a whopping 11 goals.
In the five games since, it has been a different story, with a more defence-minded Vales proving much harder to break down.
The Vales had a hiccup in a 5-2 loss to Hume United four weeks ago, but in their four other games combined under Baresic-Nikic, they have had three clean sheets and conceded just two goals, both to the premiership front-runner.
“I was a defender, so it’s not a secret that I always build a team from the defence,” Baresic-Nikic said.
“I always say, you build the house from the foundations.
“I tried to firstly fix up the leaks at the back and to stop conceding goals. The impact was immediate.”
With one problem fixed, Westvale must turn its attention to another.
The Vales are struggling to score and must find a way to pose a threat up front.
Baresic-Nikic is aware of the need of a more balanced performance, so he will slowly try to add the layers needed to start turning draws into wins.
“Now we have to try and build up our midfield line and attacking side of the game.
“We’re working on it.”
Baresic-Nikic was brought in after a coaching stint with Bendigo City. He has also coached at Melbourne Knights, St Albans Saints and Western Eagles, so the club officials trust in his experience.
How high the Vales can go will be dictated by their ability to find the back of the net.
Baresic-Nikic has to find the key to unlock the door to goals, otherwise they will sink into the relegation quicksand.
He believes a top-six finish is a possibility.
“We’ll bring the fitness up and if we start to score the goals, I’m confident we can end up around sixth on the ladder, but it’s very tight for the sixth position.”
Westvale’s next test is away to fourth-placed Corio at Hume Reserve on Saturday.
In state league 1, North Sunshine Eagles had a massive 6-1 win over Westgate in state league 1. Diellon Memishi fired in a hat-trick for the Eagles, while Reardo Luka scored a double.
Aaron Ward scored for Keilor Park in a gutsy 1-1 draw away to Altona Magic, while Western Suburbs sunk to a 3-2 loss to Preston Lions.
In women’s state league 1, Keilor Park thrashed Ballarat Eureka Strikers 5-0 while Melbourne Knights won 2-0 against Essendon Royals.
In men’s National Premier League, Green Gully came from a goal down at half-time to draw 3-3 with Kingston City after goals to Matthew Reid, Wade Dekker and Jay Davies.
A goal to Tom Cahill was not enough as the Melbourne Knights lost 2-1 to Pascoe Vale.
St Albans captain Ryan McGuffie scored a penalty in the Saints 2-1 defeat to Hume City.
In NPL2, Sunshine George Cross was pipped 2-1 by Moreland Zebras.
In women’s NPL, Calder United had a narrow 1-0 victory over Southern United, courtesy of a second half penalty from Melindaj Barbieri.
