An improved second half performance has resulted in the Macleay Valley Rangers first grade side earning a comfortable 5-0 victory over the bottom-placed Wauchope on Saturday.
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However, Rangers coach Dean Riordan said the scoreboard doesn’t reflect how tight the match was.
“You need to give credit to Wauchope,” Riordan said.
“When you look at our positions on the ladder and then at the scoreboard you would think it was an easy contest, but they gave it to us and we had to work hard throughout the entire match.”
The Rangers held a 2-0 advantage at the break but Riordan wasn’t pleased with his sides performance.
Wauchope were winning the majority of the contests and were playing with more energy but after wise words from Riordan at half-time the Rangers put together a more dominant performance in the final 45-minutes.
Jeremy Masters opened the scoring for the Rangers, heading into the back of the net off a corner before stand-in captain Andrew Potter doubled the advantage after strong work from Sam Applegate.
The 15-year-old Applegate was making his return from suspension and he beat two defenders and cut the ball back to an unmarked Potter who slotted the goal.
Applegate turned from provider to scorer, grabbing a second half hat-trick.
His first goal came from a cross from Potter before Applegate was brought down in the box and he subsequently converted the penalty.
Applegate’s final goal was his best as he beat a defender and calmly put the ball out of reach of Wauchope’s keeper.
“I was pleased with how the boys responded to my half-time talk and that they went out and did what I asked,” Riordan said.
“We controlled possession and the opportunities and it was much improved.”
The victory was soured by an injury to midfielder Daniel Saul in the final 10 minutes of the match.
Saul went down with a groin injury and Riordan said it is a big blow to the side.
“We have a number of players on the sidelines and it is a shame to see another one go down,” he said.
Saul believes he will only miss the one week.
On a more positive note, captain Paul Thurlow made his return to the field off the bench from a hamstring injury.
He is expected to start for the Rangers when they travel to Taree on Saturday to face the sixth placed Wildcats.
The side bounced back after dropping their first competition points of the season a week earlier in a 2-2 draw with Port Saints.
Rangers will take on Wallis Lakes on Saturday July 8 after their match was rained out earlier this month.
The club’s reserve grade side defeated Wauchope 3-0.
It cements their spot in third position on the ladder, four competition points clear of the Tigers.
