IF you needed an indication of the gulf in class between the Football Federation Victoria’s third and sixth tiers, it was there for all to see in Ballarat on Saturday.
Minnows Truganina Hornets, in just their second year as a senior club, were blown off the park by state league 2 north-west powerhouse Ballarat Red Devils at Trekardo Park.
The Hornets travelled without the expectation of winning, but wanted to be competitive and let the Red Devils know they were in for a challenge.
That would be unfounded as they were slaughtered 9-1 in an identical scoreline to the one they suffered in the first round of the cup last season.
“What can I say?” Hornets coach Sergio Lunedei told the Weekly.
“They were a good team. We didn’t expect to go there and beat them, but we wanted to give them a bit of a challenge and it didn’t happen.
“They were too good for us.”
The Hornets wanted to play a compact game and fill the space available to the Red Devils front line.
That was not possible on the dimensions of Trekardo Park.
“We didn’t expect a pitch that was that large,” Lunedei said.
“It was wider than a normal pitch, so it was really hard to stop their overlaps. We couldn’t hold them up.”
The Hornets task became when they went down to 10 men in the second half.
Having conceded six goals by half-time, it was feared that a double-figure rout was on the cards.
But the 10 men fought hard after the break to limit the damage and even found a goal from winger Rasheed Sheikh-Omar.
Unlike a number of clubs who forfeited their opening round cup fixtures, the Hornets went to Ballarat and gave it their best shot.
“They’re a different standard,” Lunedei said.
“We went there, tried our best and I can’t complain about the boys.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Hoppers Crossing enters the cup in the second round, hosting Altona North at Grange Reserve on Saturday.
New boys Point Cook will make their senior debut on the road against Sunshine George Cross.
