Tara Murray
The work is only just beginning for Melton Phoenix after it secured a playoff spot in FV state league 4 west.
The Phoenix has been a battle all season for a top two spot and locked it in with one round remaining.
The side that finishes top earns promotion, while the team that finishes second will have to win two play off matches to go up to state league 3 north-west next season.
Surf Coast had locked in top spot a number of rounds ago, leaving the Phoenix, Keilor Wolves and Balmoral fighting it out for second.
The Phoenix locked it in with one round remaining.
Phoenix coach Darren Traynor said it was nice to have that second spot locked in.
“We played Keilor Wolves at Keilor in those attrious conditions and beat them 2-0,” he said.
“We then beat Truganina and the Wolves got beaten and it gave us a seven point buffer so the final round doesn’t matter.
“It would have been nice to be top, but we’ve been in the top two the last three years running which is really good.”
The Phoenix has only been back in state league 4 west for this season after narrowly missing out on promotion the year before.
Traynor said while many people told him the standard was a lot higher, they were still confident of being among the contenders.
“We bought in some players and there’s a lot of competition for spots,” he said. “We’re where I thought we would be,
“It was the plan at the club and we are on the right direction. We’re attracting more players than in the past and I think we are playing a good brand of football.”
The Phoenix finish its regular season on Saturday against Surf Coast in a top of the table match.
The first play off match is the following week, with a second one on September 21 if it wins the first.
The winner of that second match will be promoted.
Traynor said they wouldn’t change anything the next few weeks.
“We want to keep it as normal as possible,” he said. “We want to keep training the right things.
“We want to have the right intentions at training and on game day.”
The Phoenix’s reserves side has also had a strong season, claiming the reserves title.
