Melton Phoenix came from two goals down to snatch victory in the dying seconds against bottom of the ladder Maribyrnong Greens in FFV state league 4 west on Saturday.
Phoenix trailed 2-0 just after half-time at MacPherson Park until a goal by Beau Chang got them back into the match.
A penalty allowed substitute Jason Moody to level the scores. He chipped in with a second goal in injury-time to snatch a 3-2 win.
Coach Peter Schwellinger said he was happy to get the win against a side they were expected to beat.
“We started very slowly and were sluggish and lethargic,” he said. “Maybe we underestimated them, being the bottom side.
“They had some good players back and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy but didn’t start well.”
It’s the third time in four games that Moody has scored coming off the bench for the Phoenix.
“It’s good to have someone who can come off the bench,” Schwellinger said.
“It’s normally his job to come on and score and dominate. He is now our leading scorer.”
The win sees the Phoenix seventh on the ladder, five points behind second-placed Surf Coast with a game in hand.
Brimbank Stallions is the runaway leader, 10 points clear of second place.
Schwellinger said Phoenix was still on track to achieve it’s pre-season goal of finishing in the top four.
“If we win the match in hand we’re only two points behind second,” he said.
“Everyone is looking for second spot to get into playoffs.
“We finished in the middle last year and the main aim was to finish top four.”
Schwellinger knows it won’t be easy with the departure of key players in recent weeks, including Jordan Borg, then the side’s leading scorer, who has joined state league 2 side Fitzroy.
Schwellinger said while the club had also struggled with injuries, it had found a couple of players who could play at the top level.
He said there was good depth at the club with its second side sitting on second on the ladder and the thirds in the top two or three.
“Reece Mamic, who is just 19, played for the senior side for first time as a stopper,” Schwellinger said.
“Jake Etherton started the season in the thirds and has worked his way up to the senior team.
“Robert Bebenek has come back from injury and it’s good to have other players stepping up.”
