By Lance Jenkinson
Where luck might have deserted it in some games earlier in the season, Williamstown had the benefit of a bit of good fortune in a 2-0 win over Sebastopol Vikings in Football Victoria men’s state league 3 north-west at JT Gray Reserve on Saturday.
The Blues have experienced a few teething problems in their newly constructed backline, so an ounce of luck was warmly received.
It helped them claim a third clean sheet for the season and build more confidence in their defence.
Blues team manager Henrik Nielson was delighted with the defensive outcome.
“We didn’t want to let any goals in and the boys looked quite good defensively,” he said.
“At the same time, we were probably a little bit lucky because they had a couple of shots that hit the crossbar. We could’ve easily copped a goal or two, but we got the job done.”
Williamstown was the dominant team in May. The Blues went undefeated for the whole month, winning three of their four games.
Nielson has been encouraged by the Blues recent run of form, but even prior to that he was fairly impressed by the brand of football his team played.
“I think we’re beginning to get the mix right,” he said. “If we can avoid injuries, hopefully we’ll finish the first half of the season well and then we’ll see where that gets us for the back end.”
Williamstown’s attack is firing on all cylinders, with the Blues popping in 11 goals in four matches in May.
Exciting winger Abdigafar Omar set the ball rolling for the Blues against Sebastopol with a goal after three minutes. Alex Vlassis scored from a free kick in the 24th minute.
A week earlier, hard-working front man Graham Bell, an off season signing from Whittlesea United, had scored a double against the Western Eagles.
“We’re looking good up front,” Nielson said. “We don’t just rely on one or two to score goals.”
That momentum is starting with a settled midfield that includes captain Aleks Dimitrijevic, Ismael Mohamed and Cody Nagy. That trio has proven hard to contain.
Williamstown is fourth on the ladder with 15 points from nine games.
The Blues will hit the road to play sixth-placed Craigieburn City on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the state leagues, Yarraville Glory made it four games unbeaten in a 2-2 draw with North Sunshine Eagles in state league 1. It might have felt like a loss for the Glory, though, after it had grabbed a two-goal advantage thanks to Daniel Anagnostopoulos and Steve Georgakakis.
Once the Glory went down to 10 men through a second yellow card to Andrew Taylor, the Eagles made them pay with two late goals.
Altona City lost for the second time in three weeks and tumbled to third in the process.
City was beaten 1-0 by Sydenham Park, which leapfrogged them on the ladder.
In state league 2, Altona East Phoenix had yet another one-goal loss, this time a 3-2 defeat to Moreland United.
It was a huge day for Laverton in state league 4 after it beat rivals Melbourne City 1-0. Marcelo De La Plaza scored a derby goal he will cherish.
In the women’s state leagues, Maribyrnong Swifts Silvers are struggling big time in state league 2. The Silvers remain bottom of the ladder after a 5-0 loss to Clifton Hill.
Altona Magic had its biggest win of the season in state league 3, thrashing Rowville Eagles 6-2 on the back of doubles to Olivia Nedelkova and Stephanie Pasceri.
Top-of-the-ladder Altona City made it six wins in a row to start the season by downing Fitzroy City 3-0.
