It may not be a glamorous role, nor does it get the outside recognition it deserves, but Joe Nave’s hard yakka in centre field for Hoppers Crossing will be one of the cornerstones of his club’s quest for promotion in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 3.
Nave produced one of his typically hard-
nosed performances for the Reds in Saturday’s 4-1 drubbing of previously undefeated Darebin United at Mayer Park … and got credit from who matters most.
“He was our unsung hero,” Reds coach Steve Iosifidis told Star Weekly. “He was pretty ruthless in the middle of the park, grinding it out, and did all of the dirty work for us, all of the stuff that doesn’t get mentioned. There’s no statistics around what he does, like the tackles and the team things.”
The Reds were thrilled to be back on the winners’ list after a listless performance a week earlier at home to Whittlesea United.
They have collected six of a possible six points, with the home loss wedged in between, to move to sixth place after three games.
“It was a good way to bounce back and respond to a disappointing loss,” Iosifidis said.
The Reds are scoring goals for fun with eight in three games.
Patrick McGarrigle has four of those goals to sit second on the league’s goal-scoring list.
McGarrigle scored one in the rout, while Liam McDermott fired in from the spot and Alister Smart scored a double. The win came at a cost for the Reds, with winger Zia Sherzai breaking his nose and Matthew Garbett off with a hamstring strain. Vince Honore laboured with a knee niggle.
The Reds will host Lalor United in the fourth round at Grange Reserve on Saturday.
State league 4
Star striker Joe Spiteri fired in a hat-trick as Point Cook smashed Melton Phoenix 4-2, but Truganina Hornets received a 4-1 belting from Melbourne City. In the NPL, Werribee City copped a late goal to lose 1-0 to Pascoe Vale, sending it back to second-last on the ladder.
