Hume City is one win away from a third straight appearance in the national stages of the FFA Cup.
City put in one of the more dominant displays of the sixth round of the competition with a 5-0 win against state league side North Sunshine Eagles.
While City entered the game as hot favourite, technical director Dean Hennessey knew the players would need to be on their game early.
“We played really well on Wednesday,” he said. “We had a lot to lose and they had not much to loss. We had watched them and knew they had some good players and it would be a tough game.
“The boy’s attitude early was really good. It became a comfortable result in the end.”
Hennessey said his side’s extra fitness and class had a big impact.
Theo Markelis, Liam Boland, Jayden Prasad, Nick Hegarty and James McGarry were the goal scorers.
The win sets up seventh-round clash with Moreland City.
City has been drawn to host the match, which Hennessey said was what the club had been hoping for.
A win will put City into the cup national stages and also seal a Dockerty Cup semi-final spot.
Hennessey said they were keen to get some silverware having been in the finals of the FFA Cup, Dockerty Cup and NPL in the past two seasons but without winning any.
City didn’t have long to saviour in its FFA Cup win, returning to NPL action on Saturday to face ladder leader Green Gully.
Hennessey described the 2-2 draw as the best game City had been involved this year.
“Both sides were unbelievably good,” he said. “We were better in the first half and they got back into it.
“It was disappointing not to take all three points having led 2-1. They are the best opponent we have played and we pushed them all the way.”
The result leaves City fifth on the ladder, four points behind Green Gully.
Hennessey said if City could continue to play as did on Saturday, he was confident of remaining in the top six and perhaps finishing even higher.
“We’re the newest group this year and we’re starting to gel,” he said.
“We’ve been on good runs. And even when we’ve lost, it’s only ever been by one goal.
“I’m happy with where we’re at. We’ve got North Geelong then Melbourne Knights and St Albans.
“If we get everything right we can get on a run.”
In NPL 2, Whittlesea Ranges lost to Nunawading 3-0.
