THE streak is over. After nine successive wins, Hoppers Crossing finally met its match in the Football Federation Victoria men’s provisional league 2 north-west.
The Reds stumbled for the first time to a determined Upfield with a single goal bringing about their downfall at Grange Reserve on Saturday.
Reds coach Joey Vella told the Weekly the concession of a match-winner 10 minutes from time represented a breakdown in team structures.
He said it did not come as a shock, with his side dodging a couple of bullets in recent weeks due to their laissez-faire attitude to the game plan.
“We got a bit impatient. There was a 10 or 15-minute period where we let the game open up.
“They liked the open spaces and used their pace to hurt us. The loss is not a great surprise because over the past three weeks we’ve been falling into bad habits. It was coming.”
The Reds had control for large chunks of the game. They totally dominated possession, knocked the ball around efficiently and had countless chances to score.
“We didn’t disappoint, we played quite well,” Vella said. “It was just one of those days when the ball didn’t fall our way. They were organised, had one chance and put it in.”
The big positive to come out of the loss for the Reds was the return of holding midfielder Kevin Smart to the starting line-up.
Smart has endured a constant battle with hamstring injuries this season and was relieved to get through the 90 minutes unscathed.
“He’s one of our most important players,” Vella said. “He can play in various positions and is a good ball player.”
The continued good form of defensive pair Julian Zach and Robbie Nagy was encouraging.
Zach, a new recruit, has shown a real commanding presence since his arrival at Hogans Road.
“He’s really solid, he’s a communicator and gets the boys organised,” Vella said.
Nagy, a fast-developing teenager, looked more comfortable in a central defensive role after playing out wide in recent games.
The Reds face their sternest test yet when they visit Epping City in a top of the table blockbuster at Duffy Street Reserve on Saturday.
The Truganina Hornets are turning into the entertainers of the men’s metropolitan league north-west. The Hornets, sitting a credible eighth after nine games in their inaugural season, were goal-hungry in an 8-4 win over Keon Park on the road at Donath Reserve on Saturday.
SCORES:
State League 1: Pascoe Vale v Werribee City PPD.
Provisional League 1: Hoppers Crossing 0 Upfield 1.
Metropolitan League: Keon Park 4 Truganina 8.
