Goal-hungry Altona Magic striker Adamson Ajayi has continued his devastating form.
Ajayi hit the back of the net for the ninth time in 10 games to lead the Magic to a 2-0 win over co-tenants Altona East Phoenix in a state league 1 local derby at Paisley Park on Saturday.
“In the last four of five games he’s really played his best for the club,” Magic coach Vlado Tortevski told Star Weekly. “He’s in big form.”
Ajayi’s goal haul is a major part of why the Magic sits seven points clear on top of the ladder.
But it isn’t the only reason and although Ajayi is the leading marksman in the competition, he has scored fewer than one third of the Magic’s goals this season.
Jon McShane has scored seven of their 29 and Ben Clarke has five to make it three of the top-five golden boot leaders coming from one club.
But Tortevski was reluctant to heap too much praise on his strike force, saying it was the collective efforts of all 11 that had led to the team’s average of 2.9 goals a game.
“If I had to write about it, it would be about the whole team, because the boys are working hard together,” he said.
“If the players work hard, they will give [the strikers] the opportunity to finish it off.”
The Magic dismantled the Phoenix in the first 45 minutes and then put the cue in the rack.
Steven Thomson was on the score sheet first for the Magic before Ajayi added the insurance goal.
It was not the Magic at its ruthless best, but the players had an element of comfort not usually afforded in a derby game.
“The players dropped their concentration a little bit at 2-0,” Tortevski said.
“It’s always good when you win and keep a clean sheet – that’s the most important.”
There was no extra motivation for the Magic other than to bank three points.
Tortevski said it was more of a friendly rivalry with the Phoenix, who share the same venue.
“It’s just another game, nothing special,” he said. “We work together [with Phoenix] and help each other as much as we can [off the field].
“It’s a friendly rivalry and that’s nice to see.”
The Magic, led by president Igor Georgieski, is pushing hard for inclusion in the NPL.
There is no intention to take the foot off the pedal in their quest for state league 1 domination, which can, hopefully, aid their promotion bid.
“Now we are starting to achieve what we want, I hope someone is going to give us the opportunity to go up to the next level,” Tortevski said.
“The president and the committee are working and doing everything possible.
“A lot of things have changed and this club really needs support from everyone and the right decisions from the FFV to get us to the higher league.”
Meanwhile, Yarraville Glory put Western Suburbs to the sword in a 4-1 win at McIvor Reserve.
Ashley Lymn fired in a double and Goran Jozeljic and Keith Dunne completed the rout.
The Glory moved up to sixth on the ladder.
