SEBASTOPOL Vikings have jumped into third spot on the men's state league four table after a gritty win over Melton Phoenix in FFV state league four on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Vikings beat the Phoenix 1-0 with an impressive defensive display at MacPherson Park.
Sebastopol had a brilliant start to the round-four clash, with Kyran Taylor and Jake Romein both missing shots inside the opening six minutes.
Will Georgiou eventually broke through at the 22-minute mark when he outmanoeuvred the Melton keeper from a tight angle after being played down the left-
hand side from a Taylor pass.
Sebastopol would maintain the lead for the remainder of the match, despite Melton pressing hard in the second half.
Coach Michael Busija labelled the victory the Vikings' second for the season as "really pleasing".
"The message at half-time was about keeping a clean sheet," he said. "If we keep a clean sheet, we win the game and don't have to get a second. We had to change a couple of things we sat off a bit and made it difficult for them and we shut them out of the game really well."
Busija said striker Marcus Lynch impressed in place of the injured Frank Labakohler, particularly in the second half.
Youngster Jack Mirabella also made his senior debut after impressing in Sebastopol's reserves last week.
The Vikings have an excellent chance to improve their record when they take on Surf Coast this week.