Things are going to plan for Altona North in the FV state league 3 north-west season so far.
After missing out on promotion last season on goal difference, Altona North was keen to not have a repeat of last season.
Half way through this season, Altona North sits atop the ladder with nine wins, one draw and one loss.
Coach Bob Stojcevski said they were happy so far.
“So far, so good,” he said. “After missing out on goal difference last year, we were desperate to go one better than that.
“Two sides go up and we’re chasing promotion. Winning the league would be a bonus for us.
“We have focused on each week and on our game and don’t let anything distract us.”
Stojcevski said outside of a couple of games they had been in control and felt their only loss of the season for them was a real wake up call.
He says they know they can’t take anyone lightly after just coming away with a draw against Laverton.
“I see how they train every week and it is important that we don’t underestimate teams and take things for granted.”
Stojcevski said he would have liked to have kept playing instead of having a bye on the weekend.
He said the group had some good momentum going which they would have liked to have built on.
“We wanted to keep that going,” he said. “The Laverton game was out of character but the last two to three weeks after the last were our best couple of games for the season.
“We want to keep going, we don’t want to get games postponed and don’t want delays, we just want to go out there.”
While sitting three points clear on top, Stojcevski said the group didn’t feel the pressure being the team to beat this season.
He said it wasn’t something the players feared, instead something that they embraced
“We don’t see it as pressure,” he said. “We’re revelling in it.
“Each week we’re playing for three points rather than focusing if a team is coming for us. We’re enjoying playing and enjoying training.”
Off field, the club has recently received a grant which will help the club look to build some facilities that parents and children can stick around and watch in.
Stojcevski said getting high class facilities was more important than anything they do on the field as they look to build their community.
