The dark clouds have finally cleared for Yarraville Glory – well, for a week at least.
The Glory has climbed out of the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 relegation zone for the first time since round two after a 1-0 win over FC Clifton Hill at McIvor Reserve on Saturday.
Glory coach Paul Donnelly was thrilled for his team, having watched them work so hard on the track and in games to turn their season around on the back of two consecutive wins.
“The boys have been working really hard and they played well today, so it was great for them to get the reward,” he said.
“I just hope it gives us the confidence and the belief that we’re going in the right direction.”
Darcey Den Ouden has been the star for Yarraville in its past two wins. Both wins came by a single goal, both supplied by Den Ouden.
Den Ouden’s absence with injury earlier in the season left a huge void on the front line, but he is back and firing and the team is thriving with his finishing qualities.
“He got the winner last week and he got the winner again this week,” Donnelly said.
“He’s been injured, he hurt himself during pre-season and we’re slowly getting him back to his best.
“We’ve got the rewards the past couple of weeks because he’s snuck in a couple of goals and that will give him heaps of confidence.
“He’s one of those players who could go on a bit of a scoring spree.”
Donnelly was full of praise for central defensive duo Ryan Stewart and Andy Taylor.
No matter how low the Glory sunk, Stewart and Taylor would always do their best to bail them our defensively.
“They’re having a great season in the centre of the defence,” Donnelly said.
“The goalkeeper [Alex Tsesmelis] has had a cracking season too.”
Anthony Themistokleous left his fingerprints on the victory. Playing as a defensive midfielder, Themistokleous was impenetrable defensively, while also dictating the play with the ball at his feet.
“He ran his guts out, he was just box to box,” Donnelly said.
After wild celebrations in the rooms following the win over Clifton Hill, Yarraville will need to re-focus with an important away trip to ladder-leader Geelong on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Altona City is cock-a-hoop after a 3-2 win over Keilor Park.
Callum Byrne, Ayodeji Omoboye and Zac Thompson scored for eighth-placed City.
Altona East Phoenix played out a nil-all draw with Westvale in men’s state league 2.
It was a tough day for Williamstown, upended 2-0 at home to Epping City in men’s state league 3.
Melbourne City was badly beaten 8-1 by Truganina Hornets in men’s state league 4, while Altona North lost 2-0 away to Surf Coast.
The news was better for Maribyrnong Greens in men’s state league 5, winning 4-2 over Kensington City, while Maidstone United played out a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Lions.
It was a bleak weekend for local clubs in the women’s state league 2 with Maribyrnong Swifts losing 3-1 to Ballarat Eureka Strikers and Maidstone United pipped 1-0 by Lara United.
The local derby between Altona City and Altona Magic in the women’s state league 3 was taken out by the Magic 1-0 after Gabriella Panagiotou scored the winner.
In the men’s NPL 2 west, Jon McShane scored a double in top-of-the-ladder Altona Magic’s 3-1 win over Sunshine George Cross.
