ALTONA City refuses to put the cue in the rack in spite of not being able to move from the comfort of its Football Federation Victoria men's state league 2 north-west safety zone.

City is neither here nor there when it comes to promotion and relegation, but the Charlie Egan-coached team is keen to end the season on a winning note.

The fifth-placed City travelled to Trekardo Park in Ballarat on Saturday and returned with a 2-1 win over danger side Ballarat Red Devils.

First-half goals to Michael Esposito and Shane Di Gioacchino were enough to see City return with maximum points.

Elsewhere in the division, Williamstown found the going tough in a 2-0 loss to Whittlesea Ranges on Friday night at Epping Stadium.

A single goal was enough to see Altona East Phoenix beaten on their home turf at the Paisley Park Soccer Complex by Moreland City.

■Yarraville Glory's promotion hopes in the men's state league 3 north-west are on thin ice after a 2-2 draw with Maribyrnong Greens at McIvor Reserve.

The out-of-touch Glory were 2-0 down at half-time before captain Harry Timotheou decided enough was enough and fired in a double to secure at least a point.

The Glory sits two points outside the top-two and clinging to little more than hope after a seven-game horror stretch which has seen them claim victory just once.

■Melbourne City has been sucked back into the men's provisional league 1 north-west relegation places after an insipid 5-1 loss to second-last South Yarra at Fawkner Park on Saturday.

Knowing a win could have been enough to secure survival, City started nervously and was two goals down at half-time.

The second half turned into a disaster for City as the home side ran riot to win convincingly.

Laverton Park star Ricky Castro scored again as his team was victorious 1-0 over Elwood City at Laverton Park Reserve.

Laverton plays a mid-week catch-up game against Whittlesea United on a synthetic pitch at Harvest Home Reserve in Epping tonight at 7.45.

Lance Jenkinson