As the fixture list rolls back around, the Redbacks return to The Web for a rematch with Melbourne Victory, and a chance to put things right.
Round 1 of the season at Home of the Matildas was a long night out. Mikey Ghossaini struck inside five minutes for the hosts, before Tremayne Sadler put us level on the half-hour. But Jordan Hoey netted the second after the break to send Eltham off with a 2-1 defeat in our first outing as a VPL1 club. Victory head coach Besart Berisha reacted furiously to Finn Diamond’s stoppage time equaliser, with the coach booked and the goal eventually being chalked off. It left a bitter taste.
Eltham now sit fourth in VPL1 on 23 points, with the league’s highest goal tally. The first half of the season has proven that the Redbacks belong at this level, but recent form has been streaky in the extreme. The 8-0 home win over Port Melbourne in Round 12 was sandwiched between a 1-2 loss away at Manningham and last weekend’s 0-4 defeat away at Melbourne Knights. The Knights night was a chastening one, and defensive shape will no doubt be a priority.
Friday’s opponents are in form. Melbourne Victory have closed the first half of the season with back-to-back wins, a 4-0 at home against Manningham and a 3-1 away at Port Melbourne. Ghossaini has scored seven goals in his last six games, and sits top of the Golden Boot standings on 11 for the season.
The Web has been good to us this year – four wins, two draws and no defeats in six home matches. With a bustling Friday night crowd behind us, the synthetic surface continues to suit the style we want to play. The question against Victory is whether we can produce that level against a top-half side who arrive with rhythm and a striker on form.
Round 14 marks the start of the second half of the season and the league fixture list has handed us the chance to right the record from Round 1. Top four is in our hands, three points clear of Victory in seventh, but the margins are tight. A home win consolidates fourth, with a chance to move up the table. A loss opens the door for the chasing pack.
Kick-off is 8.30pm Friday at The Web.
Up the ‘Backs.