By Tara Murray
Epping City is closing in on the FFV state league 3 north-west title and promotion.
The dominant team of the division so far, Epping could seal the title this weekend with victory against second-placed Sebastopol Vikings.
With five rounds remaining, Epping is 13 points clear of the Vikings.
Epping president Mark Tavolaro said the atmosphere around the club was really good in anticipation of could be achieved.
“We only need to win one more game, not only to get promoted but to win the championship,” he said.
“It’s nice to be in the position to win the championship. There’s all positive vibes and everyone is confident. All the juniors are excited. “
Tavolaro said the seeds for the success this year had been sown last season, when the club had a good side that finished fifth.
He said the club had looked to address one issue in the off season and it had paid off.
“Last year we had a good team, but we couldn’t score,” he said of the side that scored the second least goals in the division.
“We recruited three scorers and recruited five new players overall. The aim was to get promoted. We knew we would be in with a chance.”
On Saturday, Epping accounted for Sunbury United, which is among a number of teams vying for second place and the other promotion spot.
Epping hit the front in the first half and stayed there all game, winning 2-1.
“It was tough game,” Tavolaro said. “We scored early in both halves.
“We should have had a couple more, but made it hard for ourselves. We played well.
“We had a player get a red card with 10 to 15 minutes to go, and were one man down, so we had to work hard.”
Tavolaro said the forwards who had been in good form the past five to six weeks had continued on Saturday.
In other results, Upfield had a 1-1 draw with Essendon United and La Trobe University got its third win of the season by defeating Fawkner 1-0.
Upfield sits fifth, while La Trobe helped keep its hopes of avoiding relegation alive by closing the gap to Fawkner, which is third bottom, to three points.
In state league 4 north, Craigieburn City defeated Watsonia Heights , while ladder leader Lalor United accounted for Greenvale United 5-0. Plenty Valley Lions drew 1-1 with Darebin United.
