WODONGA Diamonds all but ended Wangaratta’s league title hopes with a 2-0 win at La Trobe University.
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The defending Cup holders handed the Red Devils only their second defeat of the year through two first half goals.
Wangaratta also lost three points from playing too many visa players in its opening round win against Boomers and now find themselves two games adrift of Boomers and five points behind second-placed Albury United.
Diamonds haven’t dropped a point in almost five weeks, and despite the absence of Stephen Currie never looked seriously threatened in the second half.
Coach Jamie Marcuzzi said they were headed in the right direction.
He heaped praise on Jake Thompson, who had the job of marking golden boot leader Adam Burchell, and fellow defender Mason Nhansana.
“They were missing a few with injury so it’s hard to read where they are at after beating us 5-2 in March,” he said.
“But we were in the same boat and were able to use some of the boys from the reserves and that will make a world of difference at the end of the season.
“We were a bit lost in the first 15 minutes but we worked our way into the game.
“It is a little like our season.
“At the start of the year we struggled with injuries and changing structures but we’ve got the mindset right now and are able to battle through the tough times and take our chances when they come our way.”
Elsewhere, Myrtleford had to come from a goal down early in the second half to win 4-1 against St Pats.
The Savoy dominated possession and chances in the first half but failed to score.
St Pats, whose first half was limited to one meaningful shot, then scored inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half and it could have been 2-0 had they been able to convert from the penalty spot shortly after.
Savoy coach Joe Artavilla, watching from outside the ropes as part of a suspension, said they were relieved to get the three points.
“They probably needed that goal to wake them up,” he said.
“It has been like that all season, we have no trouble creating chances, the real problem is putting it in the back of the net.
“In the end we ran over the top of them with Lewis Holloway getting a double and Matt Parks and Aaron Redman also scoring.
“It was a good hitout and we’ll be all the better for that game — it was Nathan Mirt and Parks’ first full 90 minutes in more than a month, while we also played two under-17s in Aaron Cappellari and Vinnie Paglia.”