Abercrombie FC showed that they are more than just also-rans with an upset win over Bathurst District Football Association men’s first grade leaders CSU Stags at Proctor Park on Sunday.

Coming into the match with just one win and two draws to their credit this season, Abercrombie were rank outsiders against a team who were yet to taste defeat.

The Stags had a comfortable lead at the top of the competition table, but were slightly vulnerable without their best player in striker Chris New-Tolley.

It showed as the Stags were kept scoreless by a determined opposition, who seized their one major opportunity mid-way through the first half via Michael Betts.

“It was a really back-and-forth game, both teams had plenty of possession and it was very quick,” Abercrombie coach Adrian Smith said.

“This is the second win now, and it really hasn’t been anything major that has sparked the bit of a turnaround, it has just been a matter of getting all our guys to the games and to training each week.

“It is good to see the results starting to appear.”

In the opening 20 minutes neither side could get on top of the other, but the pace of the game was high and both defences were stretched at times.

But then a nice through-ball found Betts who finished perfectly to open the scoring. It would be the decisive moment of the game.

CSU tried to respond but lacked a finishing touch and Smith would have been happy with his team’s situation when they went to the break with their advantage intact.

The second half saw more of the same, with regular counter-attacks and fast breaks down field, but again they didn’t lead to any scoreboard impact and the physical toll was beginning to mount.

The game was stopped several times as players copped heavy knocks and point-blank shots to painful areas of the body.

Throughout it all though the Abercrombie defence remained steady and they had good cause for celebration when the full-time whistle finally blew.

“I thought Cameron Brown, our stopper, was sensational and Brayden North at sweeper were both outstanding I thought,” Smith said.

“We have improved but there are still things we need to work on, it would be good to see some better finishing up front. But we are creating more opportunities and that is the main thing.”

In terms of the ladder, the result had no bearing with Abercrombie still sitting in fifth and CSU and first, but it does pull Smith and his team to within reach of fourth spot.

ABERCROMBIE FC 1 (Michael Betts) defeated CSU 0