By Lance Jenkinson
St Albans has been promoted to the Football Federation Victoria women’s state league 2 next season.
The Saints will go up in unusual circumstances without a ball even being kicked in the promotion-relegation play-off final against Maidstone United.
The game between the Saints, who finished second in women’s state league 3 west, and United, who finished third-last in women’s state league 2 north-west, did not go ahead because United forfeited the match.
Saints captain Iva Cicak was shocked the match did not go ahead.
“We were really keen to play against them,” she said. “We wanted the challenge of playing a state league 2 team.
“It would be a good preview for us if we were to get promoted, which we are now. We were disappointed when we heard they forfeited.”
The reason behind Maidstone United’s forfeit remains a mystery to Cicak and her St Albans teammates.
The Saints received an email from the FFV notifying them off United’s decision to forfeit the game, but there was no explanation why.
“When our coach got the email initially from the FFV, we really pushed to get the game to happen,” Cicak said.
“Our coach did ask, but all they would say is that it was unforeseen circumstances, they didn’t give any reason.”
St Albans will gladly take the spot in the state league second tier.
It will be the highest division the Saints have ever played in.
“We’ve made club history,” Cicak said.
St Albans enjoyed a stellar season.
The Saints came second to Hume City, finishing nine points back.
However, the Saints got a six-point deduction from the FFV for an indiscretion during the season, so they could have been as close as three points.
