The Ballarat Red Devils’ season has begun with a nine-goal rampage at the expense of state league five team Truganina Hornets in their opening round Football Federation Victoria State Knockout Cup match on Saturday.
Scoring six times in the first 25 minutes of the match, the Haymes Red Devils easily outclassed the Hornets 9-1 at Trekardo Park.
Simon Murphy was the star of the show with four goals, and had several shots hit the woodwork and another couple of shots that went wide by centimetres.
Dom Swinton got himself a brace while singles to Harley Boscher, Shaya Almousa and a Josh Romein penalty rounded out the scoring on a windy day.
“The players have been working hard in the preseason on their fitness and the way I want them to play,” first season coach Sinisa Cohadzic said. “Improvement has been shown in each game we played in preseason and there is more to work on. We are on the right track and I am happy where we are at the moment.”
Almousa opened the scoring on 14 minutes, converting a Stefan Nigro free kick with a header from 12m fly into the top corner.
After an error almost resulted in Truganina scoring, the flood gates then opened for the home team.
Dom Swinton, Josh Romein, Almousa and recruit Laurance Gogorossis took control at the back allowing Murphy, Nigro and Mosies Cociuba to do much as they pleased.
In the second half Ballarat put a further three shots into the back of the net and, even allowing for five changes, maintained a stranglehold on the match.
The Red Devils will now be joined by cross-town neighbour Vikings FC in the second round of the Knockout Cup this weekend.
