Tara Murray
Gisborne is saving its best for last in the FV state league 4 west season.
Having suffered a midseason slump which ruled them out of promotion contention, the Sky Blues have started to find form in the recent weeks.
It includes beating second placed Keilor Wolves for a second time this season.
Sky Blues coach Danny Moore said it was pleasing to finish the season in the manner that they were.
“We are trending in the right direction,” he said.
“The last three weeks against Melbourne City, when we went a man down, and then good wins against the Surf Coast and Keilor Wolves.
“It’s some of our best football we have played this season. The commitment, work rate and the togetherness of the group has been unbelievable.
“It goes to show that if we had kept our momentum all year we could have perhaps finished higher.
“I’m so proud of them to finish off the way we have.”
The Sky Blues will finish in fourth no matter the result of their last two games. Moore said the difference between them and the top few sides had been consistency. Either Westside Strikers or Keilor Wolves will finish top and claim the only promotion spot.
“We had a bit of stutter three quarters of the way through the year which impeded our run for promotion,” he said.
“You look at the teams we play against like Keilor Wolves, Laverton and Westside Strikers, they are well resourced.
“They’ve got a really good calibre of players and I’m not saying we don’t, but it’s a tough division to get out of.
“There’s 12 teams and only one goes up, there’s some really good side that miss out.”
Moore, who is set to coach his first full season having joined the club midway through the 2019 season, said they were better for having a full year together.
“I’m two weeks away from competing my full season and I’m looking forward to having a competitive season under the belt,” he said.
“We know now the processes that are required from start to finish and that will help in the future.
“We are trending in the right direction. It’s been baby steps, but progress is still progress.”
Moore said they would look to retain the playing group for next season, while trying to recruit to further deepen the squad.
He said it was something they needed to do to sustain the level they’ve played and get even
The Sky Blues will play their last two games away from home with their pitch not up to standard to play.
Moore said it had been tough having to find elsewhere to train and in some cases, cancelling training due to not being able to find a ground.
The Sky Blues are set to face Barnstoneworth United on Saturday.
Meanwhile Sunbury United is set to play Altona North in state league 3 northwest.
Sunbury was sitting in third spot before the match.
