A Kuanyjal Tuany goal at the death gave Sebastopol Vikings victory over Heidelberg Stars on Saturday.
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Neither side had been able to score until late in the game. However, after 87 minutes, Pietro Angeli created the turnover which allowed Liam Dawson to set Tuany up with a nice chip through-ball and Tuany used his class to beat his opponent and finish.
Vikings coach Corey Smith had flirted with the idea of substituting Tuany, who was not at his best for much of the match, but he stuck by his star player and he repaid the faith.
Smith felt his side deserved to get the result and was pleased to be on the right end of a last-minute decider after Epping City sunk Vikings in the final minutes last week.
The Vikings are in fifth position on the Football Federation Victoria state league three north-west table, but only off second by goal differential.
Smith pleased with the side’s adjustment to its new league, but he still thinks his group has a couple more gears to click into.
“I think we deserved it, at this stage we’re doing quite well in this league,” Smith said.
“Our performances have been good, but I think we can still go up another level or two.
“I think we’ve made the transition to state league three football quite well, now it’s about pushing on.
“It was a really scrappy game, a bit of a dogfight.
“We had a really strong mentality throughout the match, we were definitely the better side.”
Smith paid credit to the culture the club has created over the last couple of years.
The Vikings won their way through to promotion last season and have continued to rise to each challenge.
Smith rarely recounts back-to-back losses in his time, putting it down to a strong resolve and willingness to respond after a poor performance.
Smith put Saturday’s gritty win down to its character and belief.
"We always respond quickly. Every negative result we’ve had, we’ve always had a good response the week after.
“We don’t stay down for long.
“I think we’re starting to show that we have a strong character and we’re building on that.
“It’s something that we’ve had to work really hard on, we’re building confidence in the players.
“It’s something that’s underrated in the game. As coaches, in the perfect world, we could just concentrate on our tactics, but sometimes the mentality of our players is paramount.
“I honestly thought it came down to our boys having a strong belief in what they were doing...we hung in the game long enough to give ourselves a chance.”
Liam Dawson and Lee Stevens played key roles in the Vikings’ win.
Sebastopol Vikings face La Trobe University next week at St Georges Reserve.
I honestly thought it came down to our boys having a strong belief in what they were doing.
- Coach Corey Smith