Melrose FC issue a statement with classy 3-0 victory against AWFA heavyweights Albury United

The home side piled on three goals in the opening 30 minutes to put the Greens on the back foot.

Josh O’Brien returned from suspension to score a brace, while Morgan Payne converted a header from a corner in the near faultless performance.

Melrose coach Kade Rixon couldn’t be happier.

“It’s bit of a statement,” Rixon said.

“There’s not much being said about Melrose and we’re pretty happy with that, but personally I think we’re as good as anyone.

“There’s probably three blokes that can put their hand up to come back in, but it’s too hard.

“A few eyebrows were raised when we picked him (O’Brien), but he turns up and scores a double out of position and was a nuisance all day.

“It would have been nice to polish it off early and give a few blokes a week off, but we knew at half-time 3-0 up that United is one team that you’re not safe against.”

Melrose had the best defensive record last season, but Rixon is glad to see everything flowing well in attack this year.

United went in without three of its starting line-up from last weekend, which ultimately played a huge part.

“It was probably one too many,” United coach Matt Campbell said.

“In the second half we battled and had a man sent off with 20 to go.

“A lot of teams would thrown up the flag and went down five or six nil, so we basically got a 0-0 result in the second half.

“The attitude didn’t die and the guys kept working, but our injuries cost us a bit.

“I always say you need a good eight to 10 rounds to see who is going to sit where, but they’ve had a good start.”

Wangaratta City continued its dominant start with a 5-0 drubbing of Wodonga Diamonds on the back of four goals from Adam Burchell.

Boomers produced an equally impressive performance with a 5-0 win against St Pats.

Myrtleford held off a spirited Twin City Wanderers outfit 3-2 to get back on the winners list.

Albury City produced a stunning 3-1 upset on the road against Cobram Roar, while Albury Hotspurs claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 result against Wodonga Heart.

The ladder is: Wangaratta City 9, Melrose FC 9, Boomers FC 7, Myrtleford 6, Albury United 6, Twin City Wanderers 4, Cobram Roar 4, Albury City 3, Wodonga Diamonds 3, Albury Hotspurs 3, St Pats 0, Wodonga Heart 0.