Wagga City Wanderers coach Ross Morgan could not hide his disappointment in his team's FFA Cup loss to Canberra White Eagles.
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The Wanderers' FFA Cup campaign proved to be a brief one, going down 5-2 to their new Capital Football opponents at Cootamundra's O'Connor Park on Saturday.
A Henri Gardner double late in the match helped add some respectability to the scoreline for the Wanderers, who will now attempt to regroup and improve before the start of the season on April 6.
"It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance," Morgan said.
"I don't think any of us were happy.
"We didn't turn up to play and they made us pay for our mistakes.
"We didn't really look like threatening until about the 70 minute mark and by then it was too little, too late."
Zinelabiddine Eljammoudi scored a hat-trick for Canberra, including a spectacular free kick from well outside the 18-yard box.
Among few highlights for the young Wanderers team was the performance of Zach Pinney in the midfield, along with Gardner's double.
Morgan was happy with the way Gardner linked up with Jake Ploenges and Caylum Barber in attack.
The loss gives the Wanderers some idea about how they are shaping up ahead of their debut season in Capital Football.
The White Eagles were one of the top teams in the competition last year and only narrowly missed out on the premiership.
The Wanderers hope to organise one last trial game before their season opener at home on April 6.
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