Vikings playing manager Paul McClounan. PICTURE: LACHLAN BENCE
FIRST the league. Now the double.
The Sebastopol Vikings want to leave no doubt about which team is the premier outfit in the Ballarat District Soccer Association’s division one competition by winning the cup tonight at Morshead Park.
Sebastopol was crowned league champion three weeks ago after finishing the home-and-away season with 45 points, nine clear of second-placed Warrnambool Rangers.
After winning their way through to the division grand final, after defeating Warrnambool 3-2 in overtime in a qualifying final a fortnight ago, the Vikings are aiming to complete the job tonight, says playing manager Paul McClounan.
“The main thing at the start of the year is the league. That means you are the best team of the year,” McClounan says.
“We’ve done that, so we’ve since set ourselves again to get the cup.”
With each final being played on the synthetic surface at Morshead Park, McClounan says having the week off has been a benefit to his team ahead of the decider.
As Warrnambool battled its way past Ballarat in the preliminary final last Sunday night, defeating the Devils 2-1, the Vikings didn’t take last weekend off entirely, conducting an intra-club match last Sunday.
“The week off is a big thing, especially when you’ve played 120 minutes the week before,” McClounan says.
“Warrnmanbool played again last weekend but they are a younger side overall. We’ve got some young but some older players as well.”
McClounan says the two teams have each beaten the other over the course of the season but play a different style of football.
The Vikings will likely dominate possession but that is no certainty of success.
“Warrnambool play a simple game plan,” McClounan says. “They get the ball in long and rely on their fast kids to get forward.
“We kick the ball around a lot more. It’s a prettier style but both styles are effective.
“I think our midfield is the key. If they show up and do the job well that’s where we can win it.”
Sebastopol last won the cup in 2010.
In the BDSA division one women’s grand final, North United White will take on Forest Rangers at 3.30pm.
gavin.mcgrath@thecourier.com