A FIRE has been lit in the bellies of the Irymple Knights.
The S-League Senior Men’s side are on a high following their incredible 4-2 victory over defending champions Mildura City, handing them their first loss since 2019.
Knights have the confidence they can be a league contender for what would be their first title since going back to back in 2016 and 2017, latter when they edged out City by just three points.
Coach Phil Karallis said his young side are not getting ahead of themselves, but their self confidence has increased with that result prior to last week’s league-wide bye.
“It was a very good result and the boys played really well in a crucial game for our season,” he said.
“It’s a new group of boys this year so I think it’s taken us a while to come together, where as a team like City have played together for a long time and know each other so well.
“I think we proved that we are a good team.
“We know we’re among the contenders but we also have to keep a cool head, but I think after that result the boys have got a real fire in the belly.”
Before Chris Romeo and Donald Jerry each scored a brace in the 4-2 result, City’s almost impenetrable defensive group had only conceded one goal for the season.
Ironically this came in the Round 4 match up between the two sides, courtesy of Kieran Burrows in a 3-1 City victory.
“The first time we played them I think we found out where we were lacking and we worked on a few ideas tactically to make sure we prepared for them again,” Karallis said.
Romeo’s two goals also draws him level with City’s Brandon Pollifrone with eight goals for the season at the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Jerry joins teammate Burrows with five goals, with Gianluca Capizzoto having scored three in five matches.
Karallis said the team’s immediate attention will be placed on Three Colours this weekend.
“Our focus will obviously be on our next few games, no one is a walkover in this league.
“If we can win all of them and then somehow do the same against City next time we could be in a good position.
“We start again with Three Colours this week which will be a hard game, but as long as the boys continue to train and play as a team we’ll see where it takes us.”
