By Tara Murray
Westside Strikers have pulled off an upset win against Surf Coast in FFV state league 4 west.
The Strikers continued their good form of recent weeks in Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 win.
For most of the match, the Strikers looked the better team and scored twice, though Surf Coast got a late consolation goal through a penalty.
Strikers president Sam Raniolo said it was a good performance.
“Surf Coast is a tough side and we always have tough games,” he said. “The boys stepped up and played well.”
Raniolo said the margin could have been greater, given the number of chances the players enjoyed, but not being able to convert had been a frustrating element of their game throughout the season.
He said it had cost them a couple of wins and a higher spot on the ladder.
“We missed a couple of early goals,” he said. “It’s been a problem … we went through a bad trot and haven’t been able to get the ball in the back of the net.”
The win is the Strikers’ third in four rounds and they are fifth on the ladder.
With promotion out of the equation, the Strikers are keen to make sure they finish at least fourth or fifth. Raniolo said a poor four-round period in the middle of the year had proven costly in terms of their promotion dreams. In that period, they lost all four games, conceding at least four goals in each game.
“We now want to consolidate fourth or fifth,” he said. “Being in our first year in this division, we will be happy.
“Considering it’s our second year of senior football at Westside Strikers, it’s a good achievement.
“We’re used to winning and sometimes that can’t happen all the time.”
The Strikers have this week off as a competition-wide catch-up round is played.
Raniolo said it was the perfect time for them to have a bye.
In other results, Spring Hills had a 3-0 loss to Truganina Hornets. The Stallions are in ninth place.
In state league 5 west, Melton Phoenix went down 3-1 to Barnstoneworth United. The Phoenix sit in eighth place on the ladder.
In state league 1 north-west, Caroline Springs George Cross’ good form continued with a 4-2 win against Brimbank Stallions.
The Georgies have won five out of their past six games to sit fifth on the ladder. They will face Banyule City in a twilight match on Saturday as part of the catch-up round.
