By ADEM SARICAOGLU
MELTON Phoenix is one step closer to confirming its status as the best State League Five club in Victorian football.
Phoenix smashed rival Bundoora United 7-1 on Friday night to book a date with St Kilda in the decider this coming Saturday at Gardiner’s Creek Reserve in Burwood.
Friday’s “grudge match” turned out to be a no-contest at the State Football Centre as Melton ran riot from kick off, scoring two goals in the opening two minutes of the game.
By half time it was 3-0 and a fourth Phoenix goal was on the board before Bundoora United finally managed to score, but the writing was already on the wall as Melton put three more into the back of the net by game’s end.
Coach Theo Karapanganagiotidis was pleased to see first-hand just how well his side stacked up against one of State League Five’s other main contenders.
“It was a real successful year and now coming up against other champions from other regions it’s a good look for my guys to see how good we are (and) to see if our league was really that weak or whether we’re really that good,” Karapanganagiotidis said.
“We scored just after half time to make it 4-0 and then they got a goal back, but then after that the longer the game went the more they tried to press and that left them very exposed at the back.
“We didn’t take all our opportunities. We could’ve hit double figures easily but it was a pretty impressive performance.”
Chris Briggs was the clear standout on Friday with a hat-trick of goals for the night while Jason Moody (two goals), Stephen McLelland and Jay Cossai (one each) also joined the party on the final scoresheet.
After what was clearly his side’s most impressive performance of the year, Karapanganagiotidis is now focused on getting the job done this weekend against St Kilda.
“That’s going to be a massive game,” he said.
“By all reports they’re a very good quality side and they’re an old Scottish side, so they’re going to be very tough and physical.
“But without being too cocky, I’m very quietly confident that if my boys go there with the right attitude, we’ll get the job done.”
