Five listless minutes was all it took for Point Cook’s hard work to unravel against Malvern City in the third round of the FFA Cup at Saltwater Reserve on Saturday.
The Jets took a surprise 1-0 lead into the half-time break against a side that competes three leagues above them and an upset looked on the cards.
But a brief error-riddled five minutes after the break consigned the Jets to a 3-1 loss.
Picture gallery: Point Cook v Malvern City
Jets coach Craig Filer said nobody expected his side to win against a state league 1 team but for 53 minutes “we were in the game”.
“When you’re on top in situations, you’ve got to grind it out, get through it,” he said. “Unfortunately for us, a couple of silly mistakes cost us.”
The young Jets simply could not hold their nerve.
When Joe Spiteri’s early goal was cancelled out, City could smell blood in the water.
One goal turned into two and three and the Jets were sent packing from the knock-out competition.
“The effort the boys put into the game was the pleasing side of it,” Filer said.
“We lost because of mistakes but we have to learn from them.
“It’s the second week it’s happened for us now. If we stop making simple mistakes, we’ll be a very good side.”
Malvern City is one of the powerhouses of the state leagues and the Jets are a long way further down the pecking order.
Filer was brought into the club to get the club to City’s lofty standard but the rise through the ranks will take time and the Jets’ supporters will need to be patient with their young squad.
“We’re still very early days,” Filer said. “We’ve had a good pre-season, won a few games and have surprised a few … this was another learning curve for the young kids.
“We had three 16-year-olds on the pitch and a 15-year-old.”
The retention of former Socceroo Spiteri was huge for the Jets. Spiteri has experience money can’t buy and a keen eye for goal.
“Joe’s decided to come back after much pleading with him,” Filer said.
“He offers me a lot because he’s got his experience and he’s good to have around the young kids.”
The Jets’ cup experience might have been short-lived but it was nevertheless a worthwhile build-up to the season proper.
They had an entertaining 6-3 win against Mill Park before they were ousted by Malvern City.
“The FFA Cup offers the opportunity to play teams from a higher level,” Filer said.
“That’s what the cup is all about … you can assess where you are at.”
The Jets will now turn their attention to round one of the state league 4 west season, in which they will face Truganina Hornets in a much-anticipated local derby.
