The final, however, will be a vastly different story.
There was no luck to be found in either semi for the local contingent as Shepparton South and Shepparton United played out west.
South took on Eaglehawk at Truscott Reserve on Sunday afternoon, matching up against a foe that had enjoyed an imposing start to the league campaign.
South had endured a somewhat inauspicious start to life in the top division this season, and had to be wary of the likes of in-form forward Caden Meeks.
However, it would be Brent Hamblin’s first-half strike, opening his account for 2024 in the process, that proved the difference as Eaglehawk again took a big scalp en route to the final in a 1-0 win.
Shepparton United, meanwhile, had a long trip of its own to take on Strathdale in the other Sunday semi.
United had turned plenty of heads in the previous cup round just before the start of the league season when the boys in blue decimated Epsom 8-1 at McEwen Reserve.
It would be the hosts who got the jump on this occasion, though, firing into the back of the net three times in the first half to effectively kill the game off.
Strathdale kept finding new contributors, with Orlando Bevilacqua’s second-half strike serving as mere consolation as the home side advanced with ease, 4-1.
While there was no joy for the locals on the men’s side of the draw, one Shepparton women’s team was guaranteed to finish the road trip all smiles.
The same two clubs, South and United, competed with one another earlier on Saturday morning at Strathdale’s Beischer complex with a spot in the final at stake.
Rosemarene Legalo’s early strike saw United over the line 1-0, to the delight of coach Jean-Claude Giuca.
“The main goal is to win in the season, but any silverware in between would be fantastic for us,” Giuca said.
“There were a few junior girls in there yesterday, which was good.
“We’re trying to develop the senior girls to progress to our senior women, and it’s going well for us.
“The girls were excellent yesterday. Our aim was to progress, so whichever way we did, it didn’t really matter.
“It was a credit to South for making the semis, but we achieved our goal, and doing it away is also satisfying; the playing group showed a brilliant mindset.”
It’s a long wait ahead for the cup final, as the league kicks back into gear next weekend.
In a very different semi-final, league leaders Spring Gully accounted for La Trobe University 5-3 in a thriller, with the final set for Sunday, July 28.
“Spring Gully is a great opponent and they’re on top of the table; we played them in the first game of the season,” Giuca said.
“We’re grinding games out, which is good, and we’re looking forward to playing them again.
“The girls have been excellent and have deserved everything coming their way.
“Any team can be successful on the day, and we don’t fear them.”
The men’s final between Eaglehawk and Strathdale is also tentatively set for Sunday, July 28.
