Five-star Altona Magic out of sight

Altona Magic coach Vlado Tortevski. Picture Damian Visentini

The chase is starting to look daunting for Altona Magic’s rivals in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1.

The Magic has opened up a whopping seven-point lead at the top of the ladder and the season is a mere eight rounds old.

A merciless Magic put Westgate to the sword in a 5-0 thrashing at Paisley Park Soccer Complex on Saturday evening.

The three points were in the bag at half-time with the Magic going to the break with a three-goal advantage and then rubbing further salt into the visitors’ wounds in the second half.

Adamson Ajayi is scoring for fun these days. Ajayi produced a hat-trick to make it five goals in the past two matches. He is averaging a goal a game for the season.

Ben Clarke fired in a double to make it five goals in eight games.

For Magic goalkeeper Ante Loncaric, it was a sixth clean sheet.

The Magic has scored more goals than any other side and conceded the fewest, hence their league-best goal difference of plus 18.

The Magic players have a tricky encounter with Keilor Park to negotiate on Saturday, but in this form, who can stop them?

Yarraville Glory came from a goal down at half-time to draw 1-1 with Cairnlea at McIvor Reserve.

As is so often the case, Goran Jozeljic found the back of the net for the Glory.

Altona East Phoenix put up a good fight against Preston Lions away at BT Connor Reserve before losing 2-1.

In state league 2, Altona City’s rough trot continued in a 2-1 loss to Moreland United at Kim Reserve.

City has slumped to third-last on the back of three consecutive losses.

A trip to title-contending Essendon United on Saturday appears to offer little respite for City.