By Brad Hutchings (@BradHutchings_)

Melbourne Knights has geared up for its Dockerty Cup final next weekend with a comfortable 3-0 win over the relegated Goulburn Valley Suns at Knights Stadium on Sunday.

They Knights did as they pleased against a travelling Suns outfit which had already sealed its fate for next season.

First-half goals to Michael Doyle, Marijan Cvitkovic and Milan Batur proved too much to handle for the Suns, who appeared devoid of confidence after last week’s demoralising loss to Pascoe Vale.

The opening five minutes turned out to be a precursor for the entire afternoon with the Knights signalling their intent from the opening whistle.

Daniel Visevic was the first culprit to rattle the goal frame from a header just three minutes into the contest.

Visevic’s rebound effort was only kept out thanks to a fine save by Suns gloveman Phillip Petrovski.

The Suns absorbed a mountain of pressure after that until they were finally breached in the 12th minute when Doyle jumped highest in a crowded penalty area to head home a corner.

After their initial breakthrough, the Knights were twice denied a second by the post.

But their second goal finally came in the 37th minute when Cvitkovic headed home the easiest of finishes from a Shayan Alinejad cross.

The scoring didn’t end there for the Knights, who made it three in first-half added time when Batur used his chest to send the ball in the back of the net from a corner.

With the points all but wrapped up, Melbourne subbed off Visevic and Leo Athanasiou as its thoughts immediately went to next week’s Dockerty Cup final against South Springvale – the club’s only chance to win silverware this season.

The Suns tried to take advantage of the Knights clocking off at half-time, but didn’t possess the firepower to trouble the scoreboard.

They had all the possession in the second half and had multiple chances in the last 10 minutes of the match to grab a consolation goal, forcing Knights ‘keeper Michael O’ Farrell into some impressive saves after he had been a spectator up until that point.

Goalscorer Doyle said the Knights refused to take the relegated Goulburn Valley lightly.

“To be honest, with Stabba [manager Andrew Marth] we are out there to win every week. It doesn’t matter who we play we go out there to win,” Doyle said.

“Last week we didn’t end on a good note in the second half so we came out in the first half and knocked them back a bit and we got through past them and we did good enough to hold onto our clean sheet as well.”

Goulburn Valley manager David Davkovski was disappointed in his side’s output, despite the improved second half.

“The game was gone, we played like a bottom team today, not good enough. We are building for next year, that’s what it is. We had a couple of 16-year-olds on the park today and some inexperienced boys on the bench,” Davkovski said.

“That’s all we’ve got to do now - build for next year. You need to play well for 90 minutes in this level...that is what we are working towards.”

MATCH DETAILS

Melbourne Knights 3 (Doyle 12’, Cvitkovic 37’, Batur 45+1’) defeated Goulburn Valley Suns 0 at Knights Stadium [HT: 3-0]

Melbourne Knights: Michael O'Farrell (GK), Sam Torrens, Ben Surey, Milan Batur, Tomislav Uskok, Daniel Visevic (Anthony Duzel 46’), Leo Athanasiou (Adrian Barresi 46’), Stipo Andrijasevic (Antun Kovacic 54’), Marijan Cvitkovic, Michael Doyle, Shayan Alinejad.

Unused subs: Dallas Colelough, Nik Srbinovski.

Yellow cards: Visevic (33’)

Red cards: None

Goulburn Valley Suns: Phillip Petrovski (GK), Cody Sellwood, Naum Sekulovski, Simon Colosimo, Brian Vanega, Ben Clarke, Daniel Chaabani, Frankie Lagana, Craig Carley, Joey Hogarty (Rossi Lagana 53’), Riley Hamilton (Hernan Espindola 53’).

Unused subs: Thomas Langman, Hussein Sumaili, Jake Keating.

Yellow cards: R. Lagana (54’), Clarke (73’)

Red cards: None

Image credit: Sime Pincic/Melbourne Knights FC