KYLE Aubin has experienced the tough times in Western NSW FC colours, so now that the club is undefeated across two grades over three rounds he is relishing the success.
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Having returned to Bathurst after a year in Sydney, when Aubin was approached by first grade coach Mark Rooke to help Western's National Premier Leagues 4 campaign, Aubin was keen.
Playing as right fullback, he has joined a defence which includes towering American Cameron DeJong and the experienced Nikki Spice. They've played an import role in Western's success thus far.
"We've only conceded one goal and that was off a free kick. So it's been awesome to have a solid back line for once, in the past it's probably been one of our weakest parts. It's nice to be in a solid back four instead of getting rings run around us all day," Aubin said.
The pride Aubin and his fellow defenders are taking in their work is just one of a number of changes at the club this year. Those changes have been positive.
"I can't remember the last time we've gone to away games and had a result with 20s and first grade. Sometimes we might get the result in 20s, but then first grade got whooped," Aubin said.
"So it's been pretty awesome to not just have first grade doing well, but the club as a whole doing well. That generally makes us in first grade work even harder to keep our spots in the side because all the 20s are doing super-well.
"I believe probably half that 20s team could be in the first grade side
"We are not getting bagged out any more as the boys at Bathurst. It was something Rookie said at the start of the season, he wants to be the team that's hard to come and take points off when they travel out here. We've showed that.
"The atmosphere with training, you're not dreading it any more, you're excited to get there so that's a pretty big change."
Though the National Premier Leagues 4 competition is a lower tier than where Western has been in previous seasons, Aubin points out the quality of football needed to find success has not changed.
Western's rivals still have plenty of talent, the difference so far this season is that Aubin and his team-mates are using their own talent more consistently and efficiently.
"There are still some really good players in the other sides, against Parramatta the other day they had a player who had been playing NPL1," Aubin said.
"I still don't think we've played our best which is a good sign, there's still more to come, but the competition is still strong, every game is just as hard.
"I honestly don't find it any different - it's just as tough to score, it's just as tough physically."
This Saturday night the goal will be to continue the winning streak when hosting fifth-placed South Coast Flames at Proctor Park.
"Hopefully we can use the weather to advantage against them," Aubin said.
"I've kept updated on how they've been tracking, but I don't really know what to expect. It will just be the same sort of mindset to our other games, go out there and do our best and hopefully we come away with a good result."
First grade kicks off at 5pm and under 20s at 3pm.
