By Lance Jenkinson
Brimbank Stallions have hit the repeat button, earning promotion for a third straight season in the Football Federation Victoria state league.
Three years ago, the Stallions were a state league 4 club, but Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Cairnlea at Club Italia Sporting Club catapulted them into state league 1.
Stallions coach Andrew Marth said it was another step on the club’s ambitious journey to become a National Premier League club.
“It’s a huge achievement,” he said. “The club is up and coming, the facilities are superb, we’ve signed some good quality players and it does enhance our opportunities to progress.
“They’ve got a huge junior development program going with Juventus … it’s a huge positive for us to get promoted and go to the next level. Our objective is to get to the NPL, get up there with the big boys, so to speak.”
There was plenty on the line when Brimbank and Cairnlea locked horns – it was billed as the match that would determine which side was promoted with ladder leader Whittlesea United.
Brimbank totally bossed the first half and was leading 2-0 at the break.
Marth lamented the margin, suggesting it was closer than it should have been.
“We should’ve been up three or four at half-time,” he said. “I thought we totally controlled the game and dominated. Unfortunately, our finishing was not where my expectations were.”
Brimbank held the lead throughout the second half, but could not begin to exhale until Ashley Webster scored in the 86th minute.
It was Webster’s second goal of the game and 24th of the season, stamping him as the top striker in the division.
“He’s an exceptional striker,” Marth said. “The system we play maximises his goalscoring opportunities and he doesn’t miss too many.”
Raffael Origlia kick-started Brimbank’s big win with the opening goal at 32 minutes and Webster’s first goal came seven minutes later.
Despite the Stallions’ dominance, Marth could not enjoy the game until the final whistle was blown.
“It was just a relief,” he said. “It’s been a long season and the boys thoroughly deserved what we’ve achieved with one week out from the end of the season. It’s really good.”
Brimbank celebrated its promotion hard after the game.
But Marth is greedy and wants more.
There is a chance the Stallions could go up as champions if they beat Hume United away on Saturday and top side Whittlesea United draws or loses to Geelong Rangers.
“I’m a person that wants to win every game and next week is no exception,” Marth said.
