Casey Thomas has made a triumphant statement after an often injury riddled campaign with a winning goal against crosstown rivals Moreland Zebras.
It was crucial victory for Moreland City as they were sitting deep in the NPL2 West table, away from the current leading pack.
The result gives City bragging rights until the last regulation game of the season, when they travel to the CB Smith Reserve on September 3.
The Zebras came into the tie as favourites despite their recent form, but Thomas was intent on spoiling those odds. As a result of his strike, the opposition have now only one point from a possible nine in their catalogue, which could prove catastrophic in their promotional quest.
Thomas was privileged to be back playing a full 90 for the side with a humble look to the derby.
“The feeling was just the same as normal,” he said.
“[We put in] hard work putting pressure on them.
“Today the boys were very composed on the ball from the start to the end, and it was a great result.”
Thomas is a former Wales youth international with five appearances and one goal at various age levels.
He began his career at Afan Lido in the town he was born, before getting a chance to train at Swansea City.
Thomas was then given his professional footballing debut against Middlesbrough in 2009. The side lost 3-0 in the young man’s first ever professional game in the Championship.
After numerous loans, Thomas was released from his contract at Swansea City and was given an opportunity at Carmarthen Town of the Welsh Premier League. After making 13 appearances and scoring two goals, he returned to fellow Welsh Premier League club Afan Lido, who were relegated in 2014.
Thomas took his chance and moved to rival club Port Talbot Town, but after an injury-plagued season, he and brother Corey both took a leap of faith to move across to Australia, plying their trade at Moreland City.
Both players had an outstanding first season, with Corey named the club’s best and fairest, and Casey the leading goalscorer for the club, netting 10 times in NPL2.
Casey has had a tough start to the season due to injury, but after his first full match of the year against Zebras, it seems it could all be uphill from here. Thomas was elated to score his first goal for the season.
“I saw the ball come into the box and the space it was going in, and I thought to attack it,” he said.
“I could see the keeper coming from behind and I thought I’d flick it in and it ended up going in.”
Casey said he was comfortable being back in his strongest position on the wing.
“That’s a great feeling to be scoring a goal, to be back in my own position,” he said.
“It’s been frustrating having the injuries I’ve had this year, it’s just [about] hard work now going to the end.”
The win is a fantastic result for the Campbell Reserve-based team in what has been an up down season, including a slew of narrow losses, but Casey believes that the team can only go up from this position.
“It is a very big springboard for us, we proved today how well we can play as a team, how good we are, and how we can compete with the top teams,” he said.
“So hopefully we keep pushing on from here.”
It was a great triumph for a side that was in need of the three points. Moreland City now sit in seventh position after the win over the Zebras, forcing them down to fifth.
While they sit 10 points behind league leaders North Geelong Warriors, Casey Thomas is hopeful for the rest of the season.
“That’s what we’ve got to try to do now, push the top teams and try catch up to them, that’s the main thing if you want to get anywhere this year,” he said.
“We need to get our run of games going and get a couple of wins on the go.
“It’s all to play for, everybody beats everybody in this league.”
Image: Mark Avellino