Keilor Park has shown the carnage it can cause when given a bit of breathing space.
The Eagles did so by producing a breathtaking opening 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Yarraville Glory in Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Eagles president Paul Portelli was brutally honest in his assessment of the team’s form in pre-season friendly matches and cup competition, suggesting it was “off the boil”.
But now he firmly believes the team is starting to click and edging closer to top form.
“I’m a lot more optimistic than I was in the pre-season,” he said. “We’ve started to settle down and the boys are starting to play.”
Keilor Park totally dictated the terms in the first half against Yarraville.
The Eagles got their just rewards, taking a two-goal advantage into the break.
Joel Nikolic opened the scoring for Keilor Park, finishing off one of the best team goals of the season.
“The first half was brilliant – we totally dominated them,” Portelli said.
“The first goal we scored, I think it was 10 passes involved before the ball was whipped in.
“It was a great switch of play, a lot of interactive passing and it was a great finish.
“The boys were rapt with the movement and everyone was buzzing around.”
Liam Brian scored the game-deciding goal for Keilor Park.
Brian was played in with a centimetre-perfect through ball from Reuben Agyie-Danso and only had to lob the ball over the Glory goalkeeper.
It was just one of a number of delicious passes provided by Agyie-Danso.
“When he got the ball, it seemed like something was going to happen,” Portelli said.
“He’s very quick and he puts a lot of defenders on the back foot.”
Brian was heavily involved as a playmaker, Sean Sacco controlled the play from the centre of the park and Michele-Emanuele Crazia showed his value in defence – but Portelli was reticent to praise individuals.
“We had a lot of good players,” he said. “It was a good, all-round team effort.”
Yarraville was much stronger in the second half, playing with more physicality.
“It was pretty hard in the second half because it was very niggly,” Portelli said.
“A lot of free kicks made it stop-start and it upset the balance of play a bit and we couldn’t play our free-flowing stuff. They scored a goal, which made it a bit interesting, but our goalkeeper didn’t have to pull off many saves. I would’ve liked us to have scored more to make it a bit more comfortable, but a win’s a win and we’re going to take it.”
Keilor Park has moved up to fourth on the ladder with seven points from five games. The Eagles will hit the road on Sunday to face Preston Lions at BT Connor Reserve.
Keilor Park is preparing to face Eltham Redbacks in the round of 16 of the women’s Team App Cup on Thursday night at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
If the Eagles can produce a giant-killing performance, they will set up a dream quarter-final date with sister club and co-tenant Calder United.
