By Lance Jenkinson
Altona Magic is powering to the line in National Premier League 2 west.
Not content with being crowned champion three weeks from the end of the season, the Magic has kept its hot form going to move a dizzying 13 points clear at the top of the ladder.
The Magic’s 5-0 mauling of second-placed St Albans Saints at Churchill Reserve on Sunday was their 14th consecutive game unbeaten. They have won 12 of their past 14 matches.
Magic coach Goran Lozanovski does not want his team to stop there, though.
He is keen to see his club cap its 50th anniversary season with a victory over Moreland Zebras in front of adoring fans at Paisley Park on Saturday.
“Our boys have been all class,” Lozanovski said. “We’ve got one more game to make it 15 weeks unbeaten.
“Hopefully, we’ll have all our juniors there and really celebrate the moment.
“We’ll have a few things happening pre-game and after the game there will be some celebrations happening in the clubrooms.”
Not even a disrupted week could throw Altona off its game on Sunday.
The Magic has scaled back training to two nights a week since wrapping up the title, but could get only one session in after a fire at a nearby factory forced cancellation of the main session.
“It’s been quite a relaxed week, but when we get in that changeroom, everyone just gets their game face on,” Lozanovski said. “The boys had their targets to hit. They wanted to make up for the first time we met them [and lost].”
Altona was at its brutal best.
The Magic scored twice in the opening eight minutes, through Daniel Kuczynski and Jordan Wilkes. Kuczynski has scored in four games in a row to take his tally to 10 goals in 12 games.
Jon McShane, another regular goalscorer, hit the back of the net just after the break to make it 3-0. McShane has three goals in his past two games to take his tally to 17 for the year.
It was clearly party time for the Magic when substitutes Daniel Mitwali and Melvin Becket came on in the second half and scored to complete the rout.
“Both boys who came off the bench scored goals, so it was a tremendous feeling,” Lozanovski said.
“The motivation within the group, seeing the boys come off the bench and making an impact, their celebrations were awesome together.”
Altona’s midfield trio of Troy Ruthven, James McGarry and Ben Litfin were outstanding.
