SEVEN goals, including a four goal run in the space of just 11 minutes, has propelled Sebastopol Vikings to the top of the State League 3 North-West division.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 7-1 win over Westvale means in the first two games of the season, the Vikings have netted 12 goals. They now go into the Easter break chock full of confidence with a clash against fellow unbeaten team Western Eagles to determine just where they sit in the pecking order after the break.
Coach Corey Smith was delighted with the effort of his side in front of the home crowd on Saturday.
"It was very similar to last week, you always have that period at the start of every game where the teams come out of the blocks and it's a matter of going for longer," he said.
"We tried to be completely on top in the first 10 to 15 minutes because we feel we can control it once it settles."
It was Laurence Tombe who opened the scoring for the Vikings in the 26th minute with a goal from the penalty position, but the second goal, a 20 metre volley in the 32nd minute, that flew into the top corner, from Stewart Maylett, leaving the Westvale goalkeeper flat footed, was the turning point.
"When you get that two goals up, the other team can drop its head a bit and from there we were able on top," Smith said.
Two goal in the next three minutes gave Sebastopol an unassailable 4-0 lead, even though they did give up a penalty a couple of minutes later, the result look a foregone conclusion from there.
Smith said he was thrilled to be able to give his substitutes an early run, including recruit Owen Turbitt who netted his first goal for the club in the 86th minute.
Kuanyjal Tuany, who has sat on the bench in the first two round while he recovers from injury is likely to resume in the starting 11 come round 3 with the squad likely to be at near full strength for what looms as an early season clash against Western Eagles. "Looking at our next opponent, what I take from their games so far is that they are yet to concede a goal, so I'm expecting we're going to have to work much harder for our goals," Smith said.
It was a big weekend for the Vikings, who also slotted six goals in the reserves match, meaning the reserves have now scored 13 times in the first two weeks.
Smith said he was encouraged by that performance, showing that the club had plenty of depth going forward.
"In the time I've been at the club, I can't remember back-to-back results all across the club like we've seen," he said. "There's a great feeling around the place at the moment.
"You could see even with the crowd we had, it was bigger than the first game, it's a flow on effect for everyone at the club across the board."