A BRACE to in-form forward Ryan Rykers has seen Sebastopol Vikings notch up their third win of the Football Federation Victoria men’s stage league four season.
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The Vikings defeated Bell Park 4-2 in round 14 action at Morshead Park’s synthetic pitch number four on Saturday.
Heavy rains over the past week have made St George’s Reserve unplayable, but the Vikings looked completely at ease as they opened up a 2-1 half-time lead.
However, it was Bell Park who hit the scoreboard first, when a long ball was eventually chipped over the Vikings’ keeper in the opening stages.
Laurence Tombe got the quick reply less than 15 minutes into the match, and Ryan Rykers put the home side in front with a successful penalty when he was dragged down in the box just before half-time.
The closing stanza was, for the most part, played out on the Vikings’ terms, with Isaac Ellis and Rykers both getting on the end of through balls to give their side a three-goal lead with just minutes left.
Viking’s stand-in coach Jonathan Davey said his team was building confidence in the second half of the season.
The Vikings have drawn their past two matches against higher ranked opponents, and Saturday’s win over seventh-placed Park was enough confirmation for Davey to suggest that his team has taken a step forward.
“(It was) a great win – I think that we’ve stepped up another notch,” Davey said.
“We’ve found some form.
“I don’t know what to say - maybe it’s the belief that we can win, but we’re certainly generating more shots on goal and things are coming together.”
Davey praised the performance of forward Matt Radojevic, who had a hand in setting up several of the Vikings’ goals.
“He’s a real target for us up forward,” Davey said.
“He has a real presence and he worries the defenders.
“Our midfielders are starting to kick goals because of what he’s been able to do.”
Vikings sit on 10th spot on the ladder with 13 points, and play fourth-placed Maribyrnong Greens away from home this Saturday.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au