Sunbury United got a much-needed win against Fawkner as they look to stay with the top sides in FFV state league 3 north-west.
Having gone win-loss their past three games, United was keen to add another win to the tally before the Queen’s Birthday bye weekend.
And it did it in a game which had everything. United scored three goals in the last 15 minutes to seal a 4-2 win.
United director Daniel Moore said it was an important game for them to get the points.
“There was two send-offs, some penalties and goals,” he said.
“The first half, the boys were fantastic and we should have scored three or four goals.
“They closed up shop and made us work for it. Towards the end it was a goal feast.
“Both teams were down to 10 men and even when our boys conceded the two goals, the heads didn’t drop.
“There was confidence.”
Moore said the confidence and self belief shone through late with Jayden Mercieca scoring twice and substitute Joseph Tardio also finding the back of the net.
Djafari Mwarabu was United’s goalscorer in the first half.
Moore said the most pleasing thing about the last two goals was the teamwork that was in place to get the rewards.
“They were really team goals. There was a succession of passes and some good signs for the team.”
The win keeps United sitting fifth after nine matches, just one point behind second-placed Upfield.
They’ve played one less match than Upfield and fourth-placed Sebastopol Vikings.
“After we lost last week and if we had have lost again, we could have slipped to as low as eighth,” Moore said.
“We wanted to keep in touch with the top four sides.”
As well as getting the win, the club celebrated the success of former junior Jamie Maclaren, who was selected as part of Australia’s World Cup side to play in Russia later this month.
Maclaren was originally cut from the squad, but earned a late reprieve to the training camp.He did enough to seal a spot in the final squad.
Moore said it was a special moment to see a former player reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“We wish him all the best and we are rapt that he is there,” he said. “He has a connection from a while ago, but we still see him as part of the broader Sunbury community.”
