Two weeks out from the semis, three of the four top teams in the Orange over 35s football competition are still searching for answers to the question of how to beat minor premiers, Waratahs, undefeated all season.
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Flurries of snow welcomed Denley Moor to Millthorpe’s Redmond Oval on Saturday, but the home side started the match short of players and took vital minutes to get organised.
Dosed up on antibiotics, Denley striker Phil Bennett opened the scoring three minutes in, with a shot that ricocheted off both posts and the keeper before finding the net.
Tigers hit back with a series of probing runs but the ball was sent wide.
Denley midfielder Richie Shields broke the momentum with a cracking low shot from 20 metres out. Winger Harley Smith made it 3-0, 10 minutes before the break when he ran onto a long pass and beat the keeper.
Denley started the second term better than the home side. Harley Smith cut a ball back across the goal to find Josh Cooke waiting for the simple tap.
Ten minutes later it was Cooke who sent in his own cross into the box.
Winger Al Reeder connected on the full to beat the keeper and notch his first goal for the season.
As the rain continued and frostbite threatened, Denley’s Steve Adams sent a bouncing strike past the keeper to make it six.
Tigers kept trying, and late in the match Millthorpe winger Steve Dickie broke through to score a determined consolation goal, and finish the match 6-1.
In the other match, Waratahs ground out a 2-1 win over Barnstoneworth United on Saturday.
Goals from David Baughan and Ben Allen saw Tahs take a two-goal lead before Barnies striker Glenn Harpley soared on the end of a corner to head the ball past Tahs keeper John Turner and make it 2-1 at the break.
Both sides had their chances in the second half but neither could finish to break the deadlock.