Bathurst District Football: Collegians FC score late penalty to beat Abercrombie FC

A late penalty kick for Collegians would prove the difference, in a match where each team dominated one half's play.

"I think they're all very stoked with the result because we had a couple of our best players away today. We had a couple of players coming up from second grade to help us out," Collegians manager Karin Jaeger said.

"They'd already had a game in Mudgee today and they came all the way back to help us out, so we're very happy with how it all went."

It took only four minutes for Collegians to get themselves on the scoreboard when Tinashe Mike finished off a scrappy play in front of goal when the ball bounced his way.

Collegians continued to have the better opportunities over the next 20 minutes, as Josh Press and Mike missed chances inside the penalty area.

Angus Daymond had the one major chance for Abercrombie of the opening half when his firm strike for the top of the box smacked the right post.

The AFC men survived two free kicks from close range before half-time.

Abercrombie came out a much-improved side in the second half and their repeated attacking efforts would bear fruit in the 64^th minute when James Baker tapped home a perfect cross from Mitch Curran.

Baker nearly had a second goal moment later when he beat the scrambling Collegians goalkeeper to the ball but his long range poke was cleared off the line.

Tyson Newton also came close when he received a well placed through ball but put his shot right.

That hard work came apart with just seven minutes to go, when Press was downed on a Collegians corner inside the penalty area.

Caleb Moore stepped up to take the penalty and found the back of the net with his effort.