You would not have left Quarries Park with the impression that Hoppers Crossing was a battler, four divisions below FC Clifton Hill, in any facet other than the scoreboard after Dockerty Cup third round action on Sunday.
The underdog Reds from state league 4 were supposed to be fighting out of their weight division.
They were facing an opponent from state league 1, but they gave as good as they got, lacking only a killer touch in the 2-1 loss.
Reds assistant coach Gus Dos Santos said it was a “bitter pill to swallow”.
He said the Hoppers Crossing players had control of the game for long periods, only to fritter away their scoring opportunities.
“They’re four leagues above us,” Dos Santos said. “Our boys did really well. We held our own and their side seemed a bit desperate at times. We just didn’t take our chances … that pretty much sums up our day.”
The Reds were down on their luck, hitting the crossbar twice and the upright once. Kevin Smart had the travelling fans on the verge of a roar in the dying minutes, only to see his free kick ricochet of the crossbar.
Liam McDermott was the Reds’ only goalscorer, with all three goals being scored in an action-packed first half.
Even McDermott, one of the most influential players on the day, had kissed the woodwork with a shot moments before bulging the back of the net.
“It was just reward for him,” Dos Santos said.
“He got a cross at the far post, hit it first time and it deflected in.”
Zia Sherzai was best-on-ground for the Reds.
He made a number of his trademark marauding runs on the wing and was at times unstoppable.
“His speed is always going to be dangerous,” Dos Santos said.
“When he starts knocking it past players like he does, he’s hard to stop.”
Under second-year coach Alfonso Opazo, the Reds are expected to be title challengers in state league 4 this season.
They have recruited strongly, their retention rates are healthy and the youngsters are coming through the system.
So the foundations are in place for the team to hit the ground running for round one on March 29.
“There is high expectation this season,” Dos Santos said.
“We’ve had a very good pre-season and a good 10-week program … we’ve got a really strong squad.
“We’ll be fit and raring to go for the first round.”
