Centre back Daniel Setchell scored a first half hat trick on Saturday to send Lara into the next round of the 2015 FFA Cup. Saturday’s FFA Cup Victorian Preliminary Qualifying Round saw the first 11 of Victoria’s 188 competing teams eliminated and Setchell ensured that Lara wasn’t one of them in the first 45 minutes of Lara’s game against Montrose SC.

Lara started the game with a large amount of possession and making the only clear chances of the game, leaving Montrose frustrated. Their frustration was evident as they brought down Heath Urquhart on the half way line after 20 minutes, Setchell pounced on the loose ball and forced a counter attack from which Setchell capitalised to give Lara a deserved lead. Ten minutes later, Setchell doubled the lead with a well-placed header, but that didn’t stop Lara from continuing to push. The first half ended with another header at the back post from Daniel Setchell to make it 3-0 and sealing the centre back’s hat trick that had to be seen to be believed. Montrose created more chances as the second half heat kicked in but they weren’t good enough to break down a resilient Lara squad with keeper Aaron Pettman making a number of saves in the last 10 minutes after being largely untested throughout the rest of the game.

Coach Dale Harris was amazed that Daniel Setchell had defied all expectations and managed a hat trick. “I have never seen a centre back hat trick” Harris said post game, “That is a hat trick I will never forget”. Next for Lara in the FFA Cup is Greenvale United this Saturday.