A good gauge of how much a victory has meant to a side is by listening to how loudly it belts out the club song after the game.
Altona City ended its recent barren run against traditional rival Hoppers Crossing in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2 on Saturday with a 1-0 win on the road at Grange Reserve that was celebrated with gusto.
City president Joe Tanti told Star Weekly it was the most rousing rendition he’d ever heard in his time at the club.
“It’s the biggest game every year, every time we play Hoppers,” he said. “The first thing we do when the fixtures come out, we look for them. It’s a game that we want to win.”
The rivalry between Altona City and Hoppers Crossing goes way back.
But while they go hammer and tong for 90 minutes, once the final whistle is blown, both sets of players and fans come together, shake hands and enjoy each other’s company.
“We work together pretty well, both committees,” Tanti said.
“At the start of the year, we ring each other up and try to put our requests in early to play each other on dates when it’s good for each club.
“They had their past players day and we usually have our sponsors function on. It’s a bit of a help each other sort of thing.”
It’s fair to say that Hoppers Crossing has enjoyed the derby more in recent times – until this year. Altona City had not defeated the Steve Iosifidis-coached Hoppers team at three attempts before finally breaking through on Saturday.
The game was fittingly won by a Matthew Gray goal in the 25th minute.
Gray pounced on an errant Hoppers clearance and sent it low and hard past Hoppers goalkeeper Kieron Sharratt.
Gray’s impact over the course of the 90 minutes drew praise even from Iosifidis.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Iosifidis said. “He was solid defensively and every time he had the ball he was pretty creative, as well. He didn’t lose the ball once.”
Tanti also praised his team’s midfield general.
“He grabs the bull by the horns and demands a lot of the boys around him,” Tanti said. “The boys are responding.”
James Neighbour was resolute in defence. Tasked with the marking job on Hoppers dangerman John Little, Neighbour shut him out of the game. He was also commanding in the air.
“I turned to one of the boys and joked that I’d be surprised if he hasn’t got concussion with how much he has headed the ball,” Tanti said.
Ayodeji Omoboye was full of energy on the front line for City.
“He had them on the back foot and could’ve finished with a bag but just couldn’t get one past the ’keeper,” Tanti said.
But the one goal was enough for Altona City to celebrate long and hard into the night.
The win gives coach Andy O’Dell and his players a sniff of promotion, but a win over second-placed Essendon Royals is a must at Kim Reserve this Friday night.
