ALTONA Magic has taken a one-in, all-in approach under new coach John Markovski.
The pay-off is improved form and a rise in Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 1 standings.
The Magic had no weak links in a 3-0 hammering of Sunshine George Cross at Paisley Park Soccer Complex on Saturday.
Markovski couldn’t be happier with the way his team has responded to his challenges since taking over the role from Zoran Trajcevski last month.
“It was an overall great team effort, from the goalkeeper right through to the striker.”
In talking to former Socceroo Markovski, you got a sense that he took pride in the clean sheet. Three goals? Well, they were a bonus.
“One-nil, two-nil, three-nil, it doesn’t matter. It was not only getting the three points. We didn’t concede a goal and we worked really hard, especially in the last 30 minutes.”
All three Magic goals came in a 20-minute span early in the first half. Steven Cudrig broke the shackles and goals from George Papadopoulos and Rini Muriqi followed.
Muriqi was an integral part of the midfield line with Benjamin Vahid and Robert Naumovski.
The trio ran rings around George Cross, dictating the flow of the game.
When the visitors managed to penetrate, they were met with an authoritative backline, including Cudrig, Alex Koltovski, Nevan Antic and Eddie Cetkin.
– Lance Jenkinson
SL1: Altona Magic 3 Sunshine George Cross 0
SL2: Altona East Phoenix 0 Brunswick City 0; Altona City 1 Ballarat Red Devils 4
SL3: Williamstown v Yarraville FC PPD
PL1: Maribyrnong Greens 2 Geelong Rangers 8
PL2: Bell Park 3 Laverton Park 0
PL3: Watsonia Heights v Melbourne City PPD
MML: Yarra Jets 1 Altona North 2
WSL1: Ballarat Red Devils 0 Altona City 0
