The good times are beginning to come flooding back for the Goulburn Valley Suns.
After wading through the silt and mud and emerging with a sole point from the opening six rounds, the Suns are back in business following Saturday night’s emphatic victory.
Total domination of Box Hill United in the Victorian Premier League Two handed the Suns a second 3-0 win in as many weeks at McEwen Reserve, catapulting them a spot up the ladder and into a safety zone.
It was nothing less than Craig Carley’s side deserved.
Box Hill issued an early warning shot as a strike on goal rifled off the crossbar and out inside 10 minutes.
Image 1 of 7
Move over: Box Hill's Ruben Sanchez Marcano and GV Suns' Zac Balaburov. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
Barking orders: GV Suns' Callum Schorah. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
Whip and dip: GV Suns' Brandon Giaccherini. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
Anticipating: GV Suns' Matthew Lelliott. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
Shoulder to shoulder: GV Suns' Callum Schorah and Box Hill's Ryo Okamoto. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
On the boot: GV Suns' Zac Balaburov. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
Ready to strike: GV Suns' Elijah Brooker. Photo by Rechelle ZammitSuns midfielder Callum Schorah produced the reply shortly after as his acrobatic effort was stopped by a Box Hill player’s limb.
That limb could well have been a hand, and that’s precisely what the host bench thought as it bellowed out a big cry in the referee’s direction to no avail.
However, the next shout ushered was charged with delight.
Suns striker Justin Reisher, buoyed by his hat-trick the week prior, bore down on goal and curled a shot that drew a fine save from Luke Del Vecchio.
The Box Hill keeper could only watch the ball fizz in from the following corner though, as Elijah Brooker wrapped it from the edge of the box to push the Suns ahead.
Carley’s side cradled the 1-0 lead into half-time and doubled it after the break, with Brooker passing into an empty net after Del Vecchio came charging out of his box and bungled his clearance.
Brooker could have made it three if not for a strong save, but Reischer would eventually push the result beyond doubt after the hour mark.
Schorah hooked what initially appeared to be a hit-and-hope over his shoulder, but the long ball dropped perfectly in Brooker’s path.
The bullish striker unselfishly squared a pass into his strike partner’s feet, and from there, Reischer jinked inside his marker and slotted in the bottom-right corner.
Suns goalkeeper Alexander Georgeopoulos capped a great display at the death with a strong stop to keep his clean sheet, leaving no sour taste on the hosts’ lips as they strolled into the sheds a jubilant side.
Earlier on, the Suns' under-23s had an even bigger windfall as they won 6-1, with Carley scoring a hat-trick alongside goals from Jake Rumble (two) and Farid Azizi.
The Suns now eye off a mammoth stretch of seven straight away games, kicking off on Saturday against Beaumaris.