It took Melton just five minutes to establish that its challenge for the FFV state league 5 title was legitimate at Darebin on Friday night.
The Phoenix blazed through the north-versus-west semi-final, hammering SL5 north champion Bundoora United 7-1.
Jason Cossai got things started with a first-minute goal before Chris Briggs netted in the third and fourth minutes to leave the remaining 86 somewhat redundant.
Briggs sealed a hat-trick in the 17th minute as Melton cruised to a 4-0 half-time lead.
Bundoora pegged a goal back soon after the hour mark, but Melton replied in the 68th minute through Stephen McLelland.
Two late goals for Jason Moody rounded out the monumental hiding.
Melton advances to the State League 5 final against St Kilda City, which was a convincing 6-0 winner against Ringwood City in the south-versus-east semi-final.
With promotion already secure for all teams in state league 5 finals, the main goal of the season had already been achieved.
But Melton is playing like a team with unfinished business.
“We haven’t faced a strong opponent for a while and the boys geared up for this match as in important game,” coach Theo Karapanagiotidis said. “It was a semi-final with no second chance and the boys fired up. It was a dream start and we absolutely, to be truthful, just destroyed them.”
Team unity has been a big factor in Melton’s success this season.
“These kids are all in the same age bracket and are mates outside of soccer,” Karapanagiotidis said. “When they’re on the field they play as a unit and they train and work hard together. The goal now is to stay up.
“Melton teams of the past have gone straight back down after winning promotion so that’s the new challenge we have.”
Melton’s match against St Kilda City is at Gardiners Creek Reserve in Burwood on Saturday. The match kicks off at noon.
