Tara Murray
Hume City’s Dockerty Cup run has come to an end at the hands of South Melbourne on Tuesday night.
An early goal to South Melbourne would be the difference with the National Premier League winners, winning 1-0.
Hume coach David Chick said they were disappointed that they couldn’t progress through to the grand final.
“It wasn’t quite what we were hoping for,” he said. “It was disappointing, some times thing don’t go your way.
“We conceded a goal early on and that always makes it difficult. We had a lot of shots and had a lot more of the ball.
“We had a disallowed goal and looking back at the footage it appears it was on site. It is a tough one.
“It didn’t go our way, it’s a pretty disappointing and flat group.”
Chick said they felt they gave themselves the best opportunity they could to get the win, having dominated the play.
“They don’t give you much,” he said. “They have good set pieces and we had a lapse in concentration and it cost us a spot in the grand final.”
It’s the second time in a few weeks that Hume has lost narrowly to South Melbourne, having lost in the NPL competition as well.
While it shows the side can match it with the top team, it still has a bit more work to do.
“We’re not too far away,” Chick said. “Both times we’ve played well.
“We’re a chance to play them in the finals again and we will look to take it the next step.”
Chick said they were competing with sides that had been playing finals year in, year out and it was something they were slowly building into the NPL season.
“We have a huge opportunity in the next few weeks,” he said. “We’ve felt like we’d comfortably pick up some points to secure finals.
“The game this weekend made it definite, we want to have a home final.”
Chick said they could still finish as high as second on the ladder if things go their way.
He said as far as they’re aware, they haven’t finished a regular season higher than fifth.”
Hume is back in action on Saturday against Manningham United.
Chick said they were hoping to bounce back and pick up another win.
Hume still has a big few weeks ahead of it, with a round of 32 Australia Cup clash with Darwin Hearts on July 30.
Chick said it would be different with the travel, but the group was looking forward to the challenge.
