A BRACE from Matt Hasler helped Twin City cruise past a listless Wangaratta on Sunday afternoon.
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Goals from Shane Hasler and Josh Zito completed the 4-0 defeat over last year's Cup winners at Kelly Park.
The Red Devils, who were without Ivo Madeira and striker Adam Burchell for the match, never threatened the home side.
The vast majority of the match was played in the Wanderers’ attacking half, but it wasn't until the second half that Twin City truly took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The Wanderers led 1-0 at half-time before a goal to Matt Hasler early in the second half really put the pressure on Wangaratta.
On the flipside, Twin City were quick to react on defence, fending off Wangaratta's few forays forward with relative ease.
Coach Shaun Wilhelm was pleased with the result, which netted the Wanderers their fourth win of the season.
“It's a really great result for us, we wanted to shut their forward movement down and I though we did a pretty good job of it today,” he said.
“They only had one shot for the entire 90 minutes.
“It was pleasing that we were able to to that without dropping away on the offensive end either.
“The Hasler boys and Josh Zito all stepped up to the plate when they were needed, as well as a few others.”
Twin City now have a good platform to launch their season from now, having improved to a 4-1-2 record and with winnable games against Albury United and St Pats in the next two weeks.
“We've only got a couple more players who are yet to return from injury now, we're fairly well-placed,” Wilhelm said.
“Michael Shimmin and Josh Taylor will come back over the next few weeks.
“We're really in a position now where we can take things one game at a time.”
The loss hurts the red Devils in more ways than one.
Further to missing out on crucial points, the loss leaves the goal differential at -4 with crunch games against Melrose and Albury Hotspurs still to come.
Elsewhere, Wodonga Heart recorded their first victory of the season with a stunning 4-3 upset over Albury City.
Braces from Bal Bhattari and Kur Maica did the damage for the Wodonga underdogs against the injury hit City.
Aaron Gough, Dan Millynn and and Campbell Taylor were all injured against Albury United last week.
Cobram were able to overcome a spirited challenge from Myrtleford at home to remain the only undefeated team in the competition, beating the Savoy 2-1.
Albury United defeated Hotspurs 3-2 in a tight tussle, while the Diamonds were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after a late Boomers comeback.