Western finish NSW PSSA Boys’ Football carnival with a hard-earned win

WESTERN ended their NSW PSSA Boys’ Football carnival on a high note yesterday with a 2-1 victory over Polding at Proctor Park.

The 11th and 12th-place playoff at the Bathurst complex was a contest played  with plenty of energy from both teams.

Western went two goals ahead with successful strikes in both halves before Polding pulled themselves back into the game with five minutes to go.

It made for a tense finish.

Despite Polding easily having greater possession, good scrambling defence and timely tackles kept Western ahead.

“We only have them [players] together for a short amount of time. For them to come out today, weather the storm early and get a result, is just a good way to finish things up,” Western coach Gary Jones said.

“You could look at it and say you’re playing for 11th, 12th or whatever you are. Last year, for example, we finished eighth. And the kids may look and that and say it was really good, but when you lose your last game that’s the thing that sticks in your mind.

“For that point of view, it’s a great way to finish things off.”

While commending the efforts of all his team to finish the tournament with a win, Jones reserved his biggest praise for his core defensive and midfield players.

“Ryan [Duffy] in goals was excellent. I was also impressed with the two at the back, Will [Eather] and Perry [Golden], throughout the lot of it. Sam Parker and Patrick [Gibson] in the middle. Those five in particular gave the others the confidence,” he said.

“Over the whole period of time they learnt a lot and they’re just a good group of kids.”

It was one-way traffic early in yesterday’s game with Polding rarely allowing Western the chance to get out of their own half.

It culminated in a spot kick for Polding seven minutes in, but Duffy was up for the challenge.

The Bathurst goalkeeper capped off his excellent week of soccer off with another strong save to his right.

The boot of Orange’s Harry McGregor then gave Western a surprise lead.

He scored against the run of play with just moments to spare before the break to give Western a 1-0 lead.

Determined to draw level, Polding came out hard at the start of the second half and had two big opportunities to find an equaliser, one off a through ball and another from a corner.

Instead it was Western who scored next  from a Parker spot kick, the midfielder able to take the set-shot opportunity.

While the Polding goalkeeper got a hand to the penalty shot, it was travelling too quick off the Bathurst talent’s boot to bring it to a stop.

A missed clearance from the Western defensive line allowed Polding to cut the margin back to one, but the home side held on to leave the competition with plenty to smile about.