Player shortages are playing havoc with senior teams across Orange but Waratah FC managed to push those dramas aside to record its biggest win of the year last Saturday.
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FC proved too strong for an under-manned Waratah Wildcats squad.
It converted a 2-0 half time score into a 7-0 thumping to march on toward the A grade finals which start on September 2.
The win also arrested a slump with two losses from the past three games to leave it in second spot on the ladder but with two games in hand behind table-topping Waratah Old Boys.
FC also has a better goal difference of 17 compared Old Boys’ 9 which could be crucial in the run to the finals.
FC’s catch-up games start this weekend with games on Friday night against Ex-Services FC and Sunday afternoon against Barnstoneworth United.
FC player Ryan Sinclair said it was good to be back in winning form.
“The last few weeks we have been down on numbers, a few blokes are out,” he said.
He said they had to rely on promoting players from B-grade to fill the side – something Wildcats have also had to do.
“They had the bare 11 and they did have a couple of fill-ins too.”
The situation brought rewards for Tim Kelly who banged home three goals while Kyle Sinclair, Craig Sugden and brothers Even and Luke Cooper managed one each.
Sinclair said it was striker Kelly’s first goals of the season and Luke Cooper had come up from B grade.
“We dominated pretty much from start to finish,” he said.
“We played some pretty good football.
“Our goalkeeper only touched the ball three or four times.
“But to their credit they didn’t give up.
“They have been struggling of late.”
Sinclair said they hoped to see some players back in the next few weeks.
“We should get [central midfielder] Adam Kelly back just before semis. He’s one of our better players, he’s overseas.
“We should have 12 or 13 most weeks leading up to the semi finals.”
In the other A grade games Millthorpe Tigers were too good for Barnstoneworth United, beating them 6-2.
Waratah Old Boys were too good for Saints Turbulence by four goals to one while in the closest game of the round Ex-Services FC beat Waratah United 2-1.
The battle for the finals is now extremely close with just eight points separating first and seventh on the table.
Barnstoneworth United leads the B/C table.
