Tara Murray
Altona City continues to match it with the “big five” in the FV state league 1 north-west as the race for promotion hots up.
While Caroline Springs George Cross has been the standout team all season, just three points separates second placed Essendon Royals and sixth placed Altona City.
Altona coach Michael Calandrella said they had started to find their feet and the results were starting to show.
“For us we are a new team,” he said. “The club wanted a bit of a change from what had been going on there the last few years.
“They got me and I assembled a squad. It’s quite a bit younger than what we’ve historically had.
“It took a bit of time to find our feet and we’re now putting together some good results in a row.
“To be a few points off second position is really good.”
Calandrella said they had been hoping to be around the mark, but were realistic knowing the finances and resources some of the top teams had put in to try and get promotion into the National Premier League.
He said having done that in the first half of the season, they wanted to continue to build.
“Everyone knew who the big five are,” he said. “They’re all looking to get into the NPL.
“We set the target that we wanted to be in the mix with the top five and if we can achieve that, it will be a successful season
“We’re pushing to get as high as we can. While we’re looking longer term, if there’s an opportunity, we want to grab it both both hands.”
Calandrella said the side would get an idea of where they sit in the coming weeks, with three straight matches against sides above them on the ladder.
He said in the first round of matches, only Caroline Springs George Cross had beaten them easily.
“It’s really pleasing,” he said. “The boys are getting better week by week and they now know what it takes to play in this league.
“The passes are getting better and we’re looking forward to playing the big five again. There’s no easy games.”
On Saturday, Altona beat Keilor Park, 3-1.
Waleed Flifel, Adrian Mancini and Rin Takagi were the goal scorers for Altona.
“It was a good game,” Calandrella said. “It’s a bit of a rivalry game, a pretty physical game.
“We told the boys not to get sucked in and we stuck to what we had been doing.”
In other matches, Yarraville Glory lost to Corio 3-0.
In state league 2 north-west, Altona East Phoenix beat Mill Park 1-0, while in state league 3 north-west, Westvale beat Williamstown 2-1.
