A MELVIN Becket-led Altona Magic has hit the ground running in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 on Sunday, defying history for a rare win over bogey side North Geelong Warriors at Paisley Park.
The hot start was largely influenced by former Melbourne Victory youth player Becket, who bulged the back of the net twice in the first half as the Magic’s 2-1 half-time lead remained intact until full-time, following a goalless second half.
Magic secretary Rubin Todorovski said that home wins over the Warriors had been few and far between in the modern era.
“We haven’t beaten North Geelong for 20-odd years at our ground,” he said. “It’s kind of like we broke the hoodoo.”
The Magic has also stalled out of the starting blocks in recent seasons.
But there would be no sluggish start under new coach Pece Stojeski. “It’s been a couple years that we’ve struggled to get off to a good start,” Todorovski said. “The coach made sure the boys understand that it’s most important to have a good start.”
Becket wasted little time opening his scoring account for the season, producing a moment of wizardry to weave around three Warriors defenders and calmly place the ball past goalkeeper Hamish Flavell.
The Warriors weren’t about to go away and found a way back into the contest from the dead ball.
Captain Matt Townley equalised in the 26th minute with a free kick that Magic keeper Max Tommy got his fingertips on but couldn’t stop from crossing the line.
Becket scored what would be the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, pouncing on a defensive error and making no mistake.
The youngster has relished his chance of first team action since crossing to the Magic from the Port Melbourne Sharks in the middle of last season. “He’s been to a few VPL clubs and they’ve only given him limited time,” Todorovski said. “When you’ve got talent but you’ve only got a limited amount of time, you can only do so much.
“We got him in halfway through last season and assured him that he will get game time and from there he hasn’t looked back.”
Central defender Steven Cudrig had the honour of wearing the captain’s armband for the Magic in place of suspended captain Aleksandar Koltovski.
Cudrig was impenetrable defensively and led by example for his team.
Tireless striker Oleksiy Khrapko gave the Warriors’ defence the run around and had a major impact on the win.
The Magic have an eight-day break before Monday night’s second round date with FC Bulleen Lions at the Veneto Club.
Meanwhile, Altona City was blown off the park, 9-0, by South Melbourne in a horror opening to the Women’s Premier League season.
South scored three times in the first half, but it was merely an entree to a six-goal second half bonanza.
City hit the road for a clash with Heidelberg United in the second round on Saturday.
