Sunbury United has sounded a warning to the future of state league 3 north-west with a stirring win over the previously ladder-leading Brimbank Stallions.
Despite sitting nine places behind the Stallions coming into the contest, the young United side led early before being forced to come from behind in the second half to secure a morale boosting 4-2 win.
It was a result that gave United four wins from their past six games and showed the club was on the right path with it’s youth policy, according to club director Dan Moore.
“I think the side goes out every week and plays with a no fear attitude and that youthful exuberance that they can beat anyone,” Moore said. “There’s always a positive vibe with this side and they know that if they play to their strengths then they can beat anyone.
“In recent weeks I think there’s a new sense of resolve within the group and a never-give-up attitude, which was lacking at the start of the year but is shining through in games now.”
United were first onto the scoresheet as they surprised the home side with a scrappy goal to striker Jayden Mercieca in the 19th minute, only to see the Stallions answer just two minutes later to level the scores.
Brimbank would score again in the 27th minute, and it looked like the ladder-leaders were starting to assert control, taking the lead into half-time.
United coach Lino Grech told his side that they had already shown they could match it with the Stallions by holding the lead early in the game, and when Mercieca headed home his second from a long range free kick in the 57th minute the young Sunbury side started to believe.
Djafari Mwarabu gave United the lead for the second time with a well timed strike from 20 metres out just after the hour mark, and blasted home his second when his brother David set him up in the 71st minute.
Brimbank had some good chances to score early in the second half, but once the scores were levelled again it was all United.
Moore said the message from the coaching staff to the side after the game was simple.
“Look what happens when we play together as a team, that was the biggest message out of the game,” Moore said. “I think when we play like that we are a match for anyone in the league.”
Looking at the big picture, Moore said the result would send a message to the rest of the competition that United were no longer a team to be walked over.
“I think it makes other team’s take notice,” he said.
“We’ve had a little spell of picking up some good results, and we’ve now just beat the top team, and people will take notice and realise that we’re not a pushover for anyone.”
