Newly-promoted Altona City has left Sunbury United shell-shocked after thrashing it 4-1 in the FFV men’s state league 2 north-west opening round at Kim Reserve on Saturday.
The schedule makers gave City a daunting opening two weeks of the season, having to face both of last year’s state league 1 relegated sides from the get-go.
But City showed it was not going to be bullied in part one of their tough double, making a winning start to life in the second tier.
“We didn’t know what to expect, just for the fact we haven’t been in the division for a couple of years,” City president Joe Tanti told Star Weekly. “We were playing Sunbury, who just got demoted from first division, so we were expecting a tough game.
“We prepared ourselves well for it and the boys done well together.”
City has bolstered its squad under new coach Aaron D’Antino to ensure it is no pushover in the higher league.
Of the new signings, none come with a bigger reputation than goalkeeper Jack Dovey, who made an instant impact in the win.
Dovey was part of Southampton’s youth set-up before moving to Australia and linking up with Cobram, where he played in a championship winning team.
Dovey’s influence was important early in the game.
“At the start he was [under pressure] until we sort of found our feet,” Tanti said. “He put up a good effort in goal, pulled off a few good saves.”
It didn’t take long for City to assert their dominance.
They banged home four goals in the first half to lead 4-1 at half time, a score that would stand after 90 minutes.
“Aaron [D’Antino] came in at half-time and wanted to lock the game down to make sure we got the three points,” Tanti said.
Lucas Wootton’s first hit out with City was one to remember.
He was the side’s chief playmaker out wide and capped a stand-out game with two goals.
Marcus Slimane and James Duvcevski were the other City goalscorers.
Ryan Filipovic made his long-awaited return to City after his transfer from nearby Altona Magic.
“He was an old junior player at the club and decided to come back to us and help us out in getting promoted,” Tanti said. “He sat in the middle and really took control in there.
“He was laying balls out and just got us cracking along.”
City knows part two of their battles with last year’s relegated state league 1 sides will be a tougher assignment.
They will have to travel to Corio on Saturday, a side which also won 4-1 on the opening day and shares top spot with City.
“It’s going to be a good little gauge,” Tanti said. “We were happy that we got the two teams that dropped down straight up so we know where we’re at.”
Elsewhere, Yarraville Glory had a tough initiation in the FFV men’s state league 1, losing 3-0 to Keilor Park on their home patch at McIvor Reserve on Saturday.
The visitors went to the break with a 2-0 lead and added an insurance goal in the second half for a comfortable victory.
The undermanned Glory are back at McIvor on Saturday for the visit of North Sunshine Eagles.
They will also have an FFA Cup fifth round tie to look forward to, drawing an away game against St Albans Saints.
Altona East Phoenix settled for a nil-all draw with Banyule City at Paisley Park on Saturday.
The Phoenix will travel to Western Suburbs in the second round on Sunday.
In state league 3, Melbourne City overcame FC Williamstown 3-2 in an entertaining local derby at Gray Reserve.
Carlos Grande, Bakker Barakat and Henry Lopez Medin scored for the victorious City, while Alex Dimitrijevic and Nemanja Vucic struck for the Blues.
In state league 4, Maribyrnong Greens lost an eight-goal thriller 5-3 to Newmarket Phoenix, while Altona North stalled out of the blocks in a 2-0 loss to Melton Phoenix, while in state league 5, Laverton Park recorded a 3-0 win over Lara United.
