ALTONA Magic broke a four-game losing streak in Football Federation Victoria’s State League division 1 on Sunday, beating St Albans 2-0.
The Magic had slipped to 10th on the ladder and scored just one goal in the previous four games in losses to Box Hill United, Eastern Lions, Werribee City and Sunshine George Cross.
But they scored early at Paisley Park when striker Oleksiy Khrapko headed a ball into the net after a cross from Daniel Petrovski at the 15-minute mark.
The Magic led 1-0 at half-time and was locked in an intense, if scrappy, battle with the Saints in the second half.
Khrapko put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute when he was clipped by the Saints goalkeeper and scored from a penalty kick.
The Magic were without captain Aleksandar Koltovski (suspended), but David Straniero ably filled in his role in defence.
Altona football operations manager Rubin Todorovski said it was a much-needed win for his team.
“The boys needed a good performance after a couple of close losses,” he said.
“And for 93 minutes they worked really hard and got the result. The game wasn’t the best quality, but it doesn’t always matter how you play; you can win ugly.”
Todorovski said Straniero was one of the best players on the day.
“He came into the role and he was able to read the play very well,” Todorovski said. “He intercepted a lot of balls and it gave a lot of confidence to the defence.”
Altona moved to eighth on the ladder after the win and boosted its goal difference to minus-two.
Todorovski hoped the win would change the path of the Magic’s season.
“After losing a few in a row it was hard to get the boys motivated,” he said.
“But they stuck it out and fought for one another.
“We didn’t win pretty, but hopefully it could be the kickstart the boys need to get the season going again. We’ve just signed a few new recruits and we are hoping to get a couple more soon.”
In great news for the club, Pece Siveski has returned to the Magic after eight games with Sunshine George Cross this season, while it also secured Bobby Vidanoski from Victorian Premier League club Melbourne Knights.
