Valentine Phoenix are in a position few would have thought they’d be in with two rounds left to play.
Top of the table on goal difference over Edgeworth, and with Weston and Hamilton Olympic to play, two wins will be enough for Valentine to clinch the minor premiership.
News of Michael Bolch leaving for Hamilton next season has given the Phoenix the drive to send their coach of on a winning note but talking to the boss, it sounds like the other way round.
“I’d like to finish what I’ve started. The decision has been made and its time to get on with it. I would have hated it to have leaked out in the finals and derail everything, so I thought it was best for all concerned that we made it official and I think it’s worked out well,” Bolch said.
Phoenix missed out on a semi-final spot last season in the last round, when a late Azzurri FC equaliser against Broadmeadow Magic was enough to deny the boys in Orange a date with Hamilton Olympic.
“That was hard to take and to a degree it was a real motivator for this season. The guys have really worked hard all season but they know the real effort needs to be done now.”
One match which will be interesting will be the last game of the regular season when Bolch’s side take on the club he will be at the helm of next season, Hamilton.
“Look I’m thinking more about this week’s game with Weston, but I can see the conspiracy theories flying around already,” Bolch laughed.
“One game at a time Michael, one game at a time!”