YARRAVILLE Glory did its homework on Cairnlea and knew it could not afford to let its strikers run amok as they had done in the opening six rounds of the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 3 season.
The Glory deployed a lone striker, strengthened up its defence and returned from Cairnlea Park with a crucial 2-1 victory.
Glory team manager Tony Polzella told the Weekly it was a simple but effective tactic from coach Charlie Egan.
“The key to victory was our strategy to play one striker,” he said.
“We strengthened the back a bit more and got them on the break.”
Glory goalkeeper Virapon Daravong was the main beneficiary of the tactic.
Daravong was hardly called into action over the 90 minutes.
That was also due to the miserly Glory defence in front of him.
“We had to be really solid at the back,” Polzella said. “They really didn’t test us that much.”
Colin Hyland marshalled the Glory defence and hardly put a foot wrong.
“He’s very tall, very talented in the air and he anticipates the play very well,” Polzella said.
In attack, it was Darcey Den Ouden who roamed alone on the front line, capping a fine performance with a goal.
“He was best on ground,” Polzella said. “His impact is his strength, his speed and stamina, he’s got it all.”
Steven Everett was outstanding in a play-making role.
It was a performance from the Glory that will make the rest of the teams stand up and take note. They were missing four regular first-team players and brought down an immensely talented Cairnlea.
The Glory, five points behind ladder-leader Sporting Whittlesea and with a vital encounter against Moreland United at home on Saturday, want to be in the promotion picture.
“We’ve got a team that is united and all striving towards the same thing, and that is to win the league,” Polzella said.
Altona City, meanwhile, sits last in the division after a gallant 3-2 loss to Banyule City.
In other matches, Altona Magic has fallen to eighth in the men’s state league 1, following a 2-0 loss to Eastern Lions.
Altona East Phoenix had a scoreless draw with La Trobe University to remain in the bottom four of the men’s state league 2.
In men’s state league 4, Williamstown suffered a disappointing 3-0 home loss Corio, while Maribyrnong Greens returned from Geelong Rangers with a 2-0 defeat.
In men’s state league 5, Laverton Park kept hold of second place with a 3-1 win over Lara; Melbourne City won a seven-goal thriller 4-3 over Sunshine Heights Western Tigers; and Altona North drew 1-1 with Melbourne Lions.
