Laverton Park’s short-term outlook is bleak, but captain Vince De La Plaza is optimistic the light at the end of a long tunnel will be found next year.
The Reds will be relegated from State League 4 West when a horrendous soccer campaign winds up in September.
PICTURE GALLERY | Hoppers Crossing v Laverton Park
With four rounds to go, Laverton Park has just one win, six points and 10 goals – 14 fewer than the next-worst attacking team.
Inexperience, injury and suspension have hurt the Reds, but a disrupted build-up to the season is mainly to blame for the horrible winter.
The playing list was put together at the 11th hour and the fitness base was not one of a side ready to hit the ground running. It’s a total contrast to ladder leader Hoppers Crossing, which celebrated a 3-0 win over the Reds at Grange Reserve on Saturday.
Hoppers spent years building a squad and months refining their skills, tactics and fitness ahead of the season.
“It pays off when you do a good preseason and you train hard. That’s the problem we had this year; we started too late,” De La Plaza said.
“A lot of the players came in late and it’s very hard to play catch-up soccer. It takes a few weeks to get your fitness going so we were always behind the eight ball.
“Then we had injuries and suspensions and that takes it out of you. It’s also a very young side that we have this year.”
But De La Plaza sees enough in the squad’s younger players to suggest they have a bright future. With a solid preparation, he sees no reason why the club can’t bounce back next season.
“The future looks OK,” he said. “We’ve just got to play all these young kids and give them a year or two.”
Altona Magic is teetering on the brink of relegation from State League 1.
The second-last Magic slid six points back from safety after a 3-2 loss to Moreland City on the road at Campbell Reserve on Saturday.
A tough draw in the final month and the return to form of Altona East Phoenix are conspiring against Magic’s survival bid.
The Phoenix moved to 22 points, six ahead of the Magic, with a commanding 3-0 win over lowly Fitzroy City at Paisley Park.
Yarraville Glory is unbeaten in six games and making a late dash for promotion in State League 2.
The Glory has picked up 16 of a possible 18 points in that time to move to within three points of the top two.
Glory’s hot form continued with a 3-2 win over Geelong away on Saturday.
You have to question how much Altona City wants promotion in State League 3.
It has failed twice to capitalise on hiccups by second-placed Old Carey in the past
two weeks.
City lost 1-0 to mid-table Essendon United in a disappointing result.
It keeps them three points behind Old Carey, which was smashed 4-1 by Williamstown.
Goalscoring machine Simba Said fired in a double as State League 4 promotion hunters Melbourne City took down local rivals Altona North 4-2 at Duane Reserve.
City has moved five points clear of third-placed FC Strathmore.
It’s firming to be the second side
promoted, behind the already confirmed Hoppers Crossing.
