A BLISTERING Damien Booth free-kick was amongst the highlights as Western NSW FC came from behind to post a 3-1 win over Hurstville in Saturday's National Premier Leagues 4 match at Proctor Park.
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After conceding early, Western was back on level terms by the break before Booth's scorcher gave the hosts the lead in the second half. It was an effort which impressed coach Mark Rooke.
"Damien Booth from about 25 yards out unleashed an absolute thunderbolt, it was a cracking free kick," he said. "The keeper had hardly moved and it was in the back of the net."
But the good thing for Western, who are now three-from-three for season 2020, is that there were plenty of moments for the highlight reel.
It helped them fight back against a determined Huntsville outfit after conceding off an early free kick and to repel numerous attempts from the visitors to find another.
"They play a similar brand of football, they have some very good attacking players there. Early on they pressed really high, really quickly and our boys weren't quite ready and hence they scored in the first five minutes, which wasn't ideal," Rooke said.
"But the boys responded really well, they just hopped straight back into it and we got ourselves equal round about 15 minutes in.
"We had couple of more good moments in that first half which could have led to goals, but in saying that, they had a couple of chances too but Jordan Bruce did a fantastic job, it was really pleasing.
"In the second half I just asked the boys to step up the tempo that little bit to ensure we don't drop off. We wanted to play that high tempo game and keep pressing the other team.
"We did that and the other team were slightly off, which led to us having good ball, better possession in the front third of the pitch."
While Hurstville was the first to score via Jaefar Al Khulaifawi, some five minutes later Western was on level terms when Luke Mutton found the mark off a corner-kick play.
Western took the lead after the break thanks to Booth's stunner before centre back Cameron DeJong headed home an Ashton Arnott-Webb free-kick on the back post to make it 3-1.
"Once again the best thing about our performance was that we were defensively solid, especially in that second half when we were under pressure, everybody got their body in the way and did what they had to do to hold the ball out. Hats off to the guys again as a group - fantastic job," Rooke said.
Meanwhile Western's under 20s - who are coached by Josh Ward - beat Hurstville 5-1 to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
The good form from both squads has Western sitting equal first in the club championship.
"It's certainly extremely pleasing at the moment, both squads have been working hard at training. They were looking to get off to a good start and they both have," Rooke said.
"I can tell you the way the 20s are playing at the moment, the first grade boys are looking over their shoulders I reckon - the pressure is on in both squads and they know they have to perform to get a spot."
