Truganina Hornets are sure to welcome the week’s break with open arms after a month of constant frustration for the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 4 club in June.
The Hornets failed to pick up a single point and plunged to the bottom three on the ladder, right in the relegation firing line.
The coach was sacked, players left with him, others succumbed to injury and some had overseas travel planned.
For the remaining players, Hornets’ coach Sergio Lunedei insists their form on the pitch was not truly represented in the point-less month.
“We’ve started to play well but we’re not getting the results,” he told Star Weekly.
“We’re getting back to our philosophy, our way of playing.
“We’ve just been a bit unlucky but, sooner or later, our luck will turn. I’m pretty sure we can turn this bad situation around.”
It was the same old story for the Hornets on Saturday when the side went down 2-1 to Melbourne City on the road at Edwards Reserve.
They had just as many chances to win the game, only to come up empty in the front third.
Trailing one-nil after the half-time break, the Hornets hit the post, then the home side went up the other end a short time later, extending its lead to two.
Shaun Ticehurst pulled one back for the Hornets but the earlier misses by his teammates proved fatal.
“We played some really good soccer,” Lunedei said.
“Melbourne City, for me, is one of the best teams in the league and we matched them.
“For one reason or another, we can’t score.
“I’m proud of their efforts but, at the end of the day, what matters is the result, and we came out with a loss.”
Meanwhile, Point Cook players would be feeling sick to their stomachs after a devastating 5-1 loss to Melton Phoenix on the road at McPherson Park. Not only did the Jets miss a chance to go top, they fell two points behind ladder-leader Maribyrnong Greens and coughed up a hefty wad of goal difference in the process.
This could prove costly in a tight premiership race.
In state league 3, Hoppers Crossing stretched its lead at the top of the table to seven points, following a narrow 1-0 win over Darebin United at Grange Reserve.
Liam McDermott scored the game’s only goal, taking his tally to seven for the season.
In NPL, Werribee City was beaten 2-0 by the Green Gully Cavaliers at Galvin Park, leaving them clinging to third-last and in relegation danger.
The Bees will hit the road to face the fourth-placed Melbourne Knights at Knights Stadium on Sunday.
The state leagues will have a week off for all clubs without catch-up games, from postponements earlier in the season.
