Gippsland United's under 13s side returned to their brilliant best with an emphatic 11-0 victory over Casey Panthers on Sunday.
After last week's disappointing defeat, the home squad made a statement from the first whistle, burying the hatchet on recent setbacks and avenging last year's loss to Casey in the final round.
The comprehensive scoreline underlined United's attacking prowess and renewed confidence.
For a team chasing a top-three finish, this result delivered a crucial boost in goal difference and morale.
The first half set the tone for an overwhelming one-sided contest. Within 10 minutes, Gippsland grabbed the opener through striker Toby Osborne, whose clinical finish from the edge of the box signalled Casey's uphill battle.
Jet Ason doubled the lead with a precise tap in at the 18th minute.
By half-time, further strikes from Alex Olijnyk and Ryan Lissa had pushed the advantage to 4-0, forcing Casey to reshuffle their formation in search of a response.
The second half saw Gippsland maintain relentless pressure, rotating their squad without sacrificing intensity.
Substitute forward Eddy Marriott scored a neat header from a well-struck Lissa corner ball, and Almasi Keary joined the scoring spree with a late tap in that was set up from some sublime one-touch soccer from deep in the backline.
Romeo Vitale, Harrison Lawrence and Kingston Vella were linking up line a chain, and the scorer ran out of ink in their pen before getting the names of all the scorers in this goal fest.
Eight different players found the net, highlighting the squad's depth and collective ambition.
Defensively, United were equally impressive. The backline kept Casey at bay, securing a clean sheet that was as crucial as the goal haul.
The attacking trio of Will Calabro, Mitch Hanckel, and Ollie Fak orchestrated possession, linking defense and attack seamlessly throughout.
This dominant display not only avenged past disappointments but also reaffirmed United's credentials among the under 13 elite.
With goal difference now significantly healthier, they sit firmly in contention for a top-three finish.
Confidence surging, United head into next week's clash knowing their clinical performance has set a high bar for the remainder of the season.