Truganina is aiming to complete a Geelong trifecta when it travels to play Bell Park in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 4 west at the Bell Park Sports Club on Saturday.
The Hornets have already ventured down the Princes highway twice this season for thumping wins over Golden Plains and Surf Coast – both games in which they scored five goals – and now it has Bell Park in its sights.
It will be a much tougher assignment for the Hornets against a Bell Park team that is heavily tipped to challenge for promotion this season.
“We’ve done it to the other Geelong teams and they’re the third one on the list,” Hornets coach Sergio Lunedei said.
“They’re one of the teams that are up there, one of the teams predicted to win the league, but we’ve got the quality to go there and win the game.
“We’ll play our style, our philosophy of football and see what happens.”
Truganina has enjoyed a hot start to the season. Its blistering FFA Cup form has carried into the league season, where it sits on top on goal difference over Western Eagles.
The Hornets dropped points for the first time in a 1-1 draw with Altona North at Arndell Park Reserve on Saturday evening.
Still, it was valuable point, considering the quality of the opposition and the fact they had to play most of the second half with 10 men after captain Federico Rossini was given a red card.
Truganina trailed by a goal after 15 minutes.
Tony Saric found a way through the Hornets usually water tight defence, one that has only conceded three goals in five games, to give Altona North the lead.
Truganina restored parity about 10 minutes later through Abdullahi Salad.
Salad showed his class, getting in behind the Altona North defence and coolly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Rossini had a golden opportunity to give Truganina the lead before he was sent off, but missed what Lunedei described as “a sitter”.
In state league 1, Hoppers Crossing broke down defensively, going down 5-3 to Banyule City at Yallambie Park Reserve.
The Reds actually led the game three times after a double to Simon Tolli and a goal to Kwaku Dade, but could not hold on at any stage.
The Reds will host rivals Altona City at Grange Reserve on Saturday.
In state league 3, Point Cook played out a 1-1 draw with Essendon United on the road at JH Allan Reserve.
Jason Moody got on the score sheet for the visiting Jets.
In state league 5, Peter D’Arcy scored in West Point’s 1-1 draw with Barwon.
In women’s state league 2, Hoppers Crossing had a resounding 3-0 win over Moreland Zebras to keep its undefeated start alive.
In women’s state league 3, Point Cook had a day it would rather forget, losing 7-0 to Spring Hills at Saltwater Reserve, while West Point had an 8-3 defeat to Westgate in women’s state league 4.
