Myrtleford has one hand on the AWFA senior men’s league title following an emphatic 6-0 victory against nearest rivals Wangaratta at South Wangaratta Reserve on Sunday.
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Savoys’ star import Tom Youngs got the visitors firing with a perfectly placed free kick which found the back of the net via the left post in the 13th minute.
The Englishman added another to his name 15 minutes later when he expertly chipped Wangaratta goalkeeper Jon Shaw.
On the stroke of half-time, a sliding effort from co-coach Matt Park was helped across the line by a desperate Wangaratta defence to give the league leaders a 3-0 advantage at the break.
Wangaratta started the second half in much better fashion, but lacked polish in front of goal, squandering a number of chances.
The Devils were made to pay when an own goal went in, this time off the boot of Ori Kara in the 72nd minute, before Patrick Sibomana made it 5-0 less than 10 minutes later.
Youngs was unlucky not to have a hat trick when a shot late in the game struck the upright, but the deflection was tapped in by Park to secure the 6-0 rout.
The result moves the Savoys four points clear on top and co-coach Jayden Vescio couldn’t of been happier with the performance.
“We came here on mission today,” Vescio said.
“We needed to get the three points and I can’t fault this group.
“They’ve got some sort of drive, and, we haven’t quite won the league, but I cast my mind back to 2006 when we beat Wang on the last day to win the league then.
“It’s much the same, we’ve still got two tricky fixtures, but we’re in the middle of a golden run, we’ve got a good mix and 15 players that can play.”
Vescio admitted Youngs is in a league of his own.
“He probably needs to make that step up to NPL 1 not NPL 2, which he probably will,” Vescio said.
“He’s a great lad, he’s quiet, he’s humble, he doesn’t have an ego and he does the team thing nine times out of 10.
“We’ve got him, Parksy, Daniel Kioses and Patrick Sibomana, who two years ago was playing at Wodonga Heart, combining up top.
“It’s pretty lethal, but that doesn’t take away from what we’ve got through the middle and down back.
“To be able to bring Nathan Mirt on (off the bench) who’s a dual Star Player at the back end of his career is huge.
“(Goalkeeper) Will Keenan stood up in the big moments and probably forces me out of a game, but it’s a pleasure (to coach this group).”
Wangaratta coach Mario Antonello has conceded the league is now out of reach with Myrtleford to start hot favourties against Albury Hotspurs and Cobram in their final two fixtures.
“They deserved to win and fully deserve to be league champs,” Antonello said.
“They won’t drop two games, they won’t even drop a half if they play like that.
“We’ll concentrate on finals and hopefully see them in a final somewhere.”
Adam Burchell lined up in the reserves and continues to battle osteitis pubis.
“He hasn’t played a full game yet, so we’re hoping to get him right for finals,” Antonello added.
“Tom Frawley came off and looks like he may have pinched a groin, so we’ll see how that is throughout the week.”
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