Whittlesea Ranges has its first National Premier League victory on the board with a 2-1 win against FC Bendigo 2-1 on Saturday.
The Ranges – thwarted by sprinklers in an opening-round loss to Kingston City and beaten 4-0 by Melbourne Knights in the Dockerty Cup last weekend – controlled most of the match against FC Bendigo at Epping Stadium.
Whittlesea captain Daniel Giogha scored the first goal and the Ranges led 1-0 at half-time.
An impressive defensive effort saw the Ranges hold that lead until the dying minutes, when FC Bendigo took advantage of a defensive lapse to level.
But a free kick from Matthew Iuliano in injury time saw the Ranges take all three points and move to ninth on the table.
Secretary Sergio Costanzo said the club continued to put emphasis on youth and was pleased to see the young Ranges outfit take their first win.
“Our oldest player is 24 and the average age is about 20 and that’s a good thing,” he said. “With a young team it will take time to get to know each other and build confidence but they’re all very talented individuals. We had a lapse and Bendigo scored but we have to be realistic; those lapses are going to happen.
“The only way to fix that is through experience. The only way to get experience is by playing these young kids and getting them playing regular football.
“I’d say they continued on from their second half against Kingston City, and this time there were no sprinklers, so they did well and everything was brilliant.
“They played very well and deserved the win. ”
Costanzo said Whittlesea’s prime focus was on developing youth, the club lacking the social or ethnic backing of many of its fellow competitors.
“It’s good because a lot of NPL clubs are going with youth and that’s a credit to them,” he said. “We need to strengthen our base and the only way we can do that is through the juniors.”
Whittlesea is on the road this weekend against unbeaten Sunshine George Cross.
“That should be a really good game. They look like they’ve got a lot of talented young kids as well,” Costanzo said.
