Tara Murray
Altona North will find itself in new territory next year after earning promotion to FV state league 2 north-west.
On Saturday, Altona North secured the one point it needed against Heidelberg United to finish in second spot in state league 3 north-west and seal promotion.
Westvale has already claimed the championship and the other promotion spot.
Altona North president Riccardo Conte said they were looking forward to enjoying the success the next few weeks.
“I think the results on and off the field at the start of the season have paid off,” he said. ‘There’s a sense of relief and achievement for our members and everyone.
“Without sounding over confident, we set a fairly huge target. We said let’s go hard from recruitment perspective and get the right personnel in and see where it takes us at the half way point.
“Move forward from there and give it a good shake.”
Conte said the first half of the season had been the key to sealing a top spot, with the side getting plenty of early points.
On Saturday, Altona North needed only one point against Heidelberg United for a promotion spot in a catch up match.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
“It was an end to end game,” Conte said. “It was a good representation of both sides. Special mention to both goalkeepers, who had some first class saves.
“In the end it was a fair result and we came away with the minimum result we wanted to come away with.”
Conte said having secured promotion, it meant the playing group and the club as a whole could enjoy the last few weeks.
For the club it caps off a good period in recent times. It won the state league 4 west title in 2019 to earn promotion into state league 4, before the 2020 season was cancelled.
This year is their first full season since then due to COVID-19. State league 2 will be the highest the club has been since its inception.
Conte said two promotions in three years isn’t bad. He said they would enjoy themselves before looking to the future.
“We want to let this sink in and enjoy the success,” he said. “ The executive committee will then start to look towards the 2023 season and entertain what that looks like.”
Altona North this week faces Sunbury United.
Meanwhile in state league 2 north-west, Altona East Phoenix is well and truly alive in the promotion mix, with Upfield being deducted six points.
With two rounds remaining, just three points separate the top four teams including the Phoenix which is in third spot.
