BALLARAT City FC is through to the fifth round of the FFA Cup after a stunning 1-0 win over Altona Magic.
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A change in attitude was the key to the amazing victory against one of the richest NPL1 clubs, with the 30th minute goal sending the Ballarat team into raptures, just one week after it fell 7-0 in the second round of the NPL3 season.
With last week's result against North Sunshine fresh in the mind, Ballarat City coach Adam Grinholz took the park the bus option at training at it paid dividends with Denelson Salvatore netting the winner from the penalty spot after Elijah Brooker was brought down in the box.
"We changed the way we played," Grinholz said. "we played a 4-3-3 but we were just tighter, we made sure we were marking a little bit tighter and almost played in a way that it was a 3-5-2.
"We wanted to keep it pretty simple, we asked players simply to try and win their duels, if you win the one versus one you can stop their good players and look to exploit the others."
Grinholz said he didn't speak about the 7-0 loss the week before, saying the team simply didn't turn up in the round 2 match.
"We didn't play with the required intensity that game, but the players who made mistakes, they know that, they feel bad enough you don't have to remind them about it," he said.
"We only trained the Monday and Wednesday because of Good Friday. Wednesday night we talked about the changes we wanted to make and from there we put it into action."
Grinholz said after the first goal was scored, the confidence built leading into half time, despite a couple of almost costly mistakes right on the stroke of the break.
After the break, Altona looked to change its system, but Ballarat City was awake to the changes.
The last 20-25 minutes The Magic through everything it had at the Ballarat defence, with the work of goal keeper Sami Regague proving the key in the dying stages, including a stunning save in the final moments.
"The last 5-10 minutes they were sending the ball into the box again and again and our goal keeper stood up," he said.
"Sammy Regague was involved in the game all day, our usual vice-captain Daniel Tinker had the captains band on and stood up, with Isaac and Elijah Brooker also putting in a really good performance.
"We used all of our subs, and it was about 30 degrees, so if they had have got the equaliser, it would have gone to extra time and it would have been very tough to hold on, but we were able to hold on."
Matches in the FFA Cup fourth round are still to be completed with the fifth round draw expected to be released later in the week with the games to be played in early May.
Ballarat City is at home to undefeated Doveton at home this weekend in the third round of NPL3 season.