After 20 minutes, the game between Plenty Valley Lions and Meadow Park was shaping up as a hard slog.
The score was 0-0 in the FFV state league 4 north game, with bottom-of-the-ladder Meadow Park matching it with the third-placed Lions.
What happened next came as a surprise to everyone.
One goal to the Lions quickly turned into eight before half-time.
The Lions weren’t finished – they slammed home another eight goals in the second half to win 16-0.
Entering the game, the Lions had scored 16 goals in their first seven matches.
Lions coach Michael Loche said no one saw what was coming.
“I’ve never seen anything like it at senior football before,” Loche said. “We didn’t score to the 20th minute, which makes it more remarkable.
“We had eight goals before half-time and eight after half-time. We had the killer instinct.
“Everything just clicked and we got the reward for our efforts, which we haven’t had the last few weeks.”
Lions skipper Taner Altanhan made the most of his opportunities, scoring 10 goals for the game.
“The most goals I’ve seen anyone get is six goals before this game,” Loche said.
“He has been working hard with not too much reward. He scored a brilliant first goal and had five at half-time.
“Being captain, he stressed to the side [at half-time] that we needed to keep playing the way we have been playing.
“It didn’t matter who scored the goals [but] it was Taner’s day on Saturday.”
The win boosts the Lions’ goal difference and sees them rise back to second on the ladder.
“It gives us immense confidence that we can attack quickly and put sides under a lot of pressure,” Loche said.
In other results, Epping City and FC Strathmore drew 1-1, Greenvale United lost 3-1 to Watsonia Heights and Bundoora United beat Newmarket Phoenix 3-2.
In state league 2 north-west, Hume United lost to Essendon Royals 4-2 and Sporting Whittlesea defeated Essendon United 2-1.
Upfield continued its good start to the season in state league 3 north-west with a 4-0 win over Whittlesea United.
Lalor United and Geelong Rangers drew 1-1.
