JUST one team sits above the Ballarat Red Devils on the State League division two ladder after the Reds displaced new arch-rival Altona East Phoenix one-nil at Trekardo Park on Saturday.
The Haymes Ballarat Red Devils are in clear second spot on the premiership table and are now breathing down the neck of Pascoe Vale, which could only manage a draw against Thomastown.
The win was achieved without Sam Muscat and Frank Labakohler, who missed the match through injury and suspension respectively, and with minimal input from skipper Josh Romein, who injured his hip on three minutes
in a clash with Phoenix player Nazir Ismail.
"Even though you might be hurting, you have to pick yourself up and keep going," Romein said.
"I am proud to say that each and every player gave their all today in what was a great win he said after the match."
The Phoenix had the better of the opening exchanges and looked the more likely to score in the first half, as players from both sides turned the ball over regularly.
Ballarat had the ball in the back of the net on 23 minutes when a shot from the top of the box by Shaun Romein found brother Josh who, on the turn, thumped the ball home only for the linesman to flag off-side.
Both teams upped the intensity in the second half as both keepers were called on to make excellent saves.
Ballarat then went ahead from a Josh Romein penalty after Sandro Digirlamo was hauled down in the box. Romein coolly slotted the ball home, sending the keeper the wrong way.
In a pulsating last 10 minutes a corner from the Phoenix stayed in the Red Devils' box for a full minute, with players from both teams throwing themselves at the ball for a goal or a stop.
"That was one of the best performances we have put together as a team in the last two years," said Reds coach Danny Gnjidic.
"We have come a long way in recent times and today I believe we took another huge step forward. Take nothing away from Altona East, but we were keen to prove that we were capable of matching it with a team like East.
"There are still eight games in the season and we are now in a situation where we have everything to play for. We will enjoy this win for a couple of days and then focus on the game at North Geelong, which will be a good test
for us."