The fledgling NPL1 side set the tone for the game in opening 10 minutes when first marquee marksman Zac Walker then fellow striker Adam Waters put the home side up 2-0.

When Walker cooly finished a third on 20 minutes the history books were already being written.

But despite dominating the opening 15 minutes of the second half, it was the visitors who began to look like pulling off a stunning comeback when Melbourne City scored just past the hour and then again on the cusp of regular time.

Coach Mick Richards admitted it was a dream start.

“The week before against Kingston City we were caught napping in the first 20 minutes, in some ways it was a sign we didn’t really believe in ourselves,” he said.

“So on Saturday we wanted to make a statement, come out of the blocks firing.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but you could only dream that you could be 3-0 up after 20 minutes.

“Walker really dominated the first half hour, against his old club he had a point to prove and he ran the show.

“Without doubt that is one of the best results in my sporting career.

“Make no mistake they are a quality side that probably underestimated us at the start of the game.

“Just like (Melbourne) Victory a couple of weeks ago there will be players in that team already ear-marked for A-League and here’s a side made up of mostly homegrown talent that’s been able to beat them.”

It was the prefect send-off for the retiring Josh Fluss — the keeper also making a critical one-on-one save late in the contest.

Richards paid homage to the shot stopper who will now make a permanent switch to the coaching ranks.

“We were able to use his last game as a bit of motivation and the fact was he stood up there at the death and played a crucial role in the win,” he said.

“But we have been playing good football for the past month, despite some of the scorelines, and the inclusion of Ashley Dunn and Ryan Giles finally being fit enough to get on the park has made a massive difference.

“We now have two players who are strong and tough on the ball in the midfield and don’t have to fabricate that role with players who are not naturally that sort of player.

“A lot of people think we have been making excuses with our casualty list but after 12 rounds we have used 29 players, I’m pretty sure that would be some sort of record.

“In the past fortnight we have used just 12.”

But Richards is less upbeat about the future of Kade Rixon.

The super-quick winger was subbed out of the game after 23 minutes.

“He has been a standout since his return from injury but then twisted his knee on Saturday and it’s never a good sign when someone is injured when they are not in the play, when it just happens,” he 

said.