With five to six regular players unavailable due to injury, it was expected to be a tough match for Macquarie United but some late magic from Hodges sealed the deal.

Macquarie United coach Paul Crain was pleased with his under-strength side's performance in the game.

"Game could've went either way, it was a very competitive game and the goal was scored in the 90th minute so that just shows how tight it was, could've gone either way but we were lucky it went our way." he said.

Crain praised Hodges' goal and performance of the whole side.

"Will played well and to get a goal like that, that's what football is about and for us our goal for this weekend with five or six regular out was to get at least one point, we got three so that's a bonus for us." he said.

"But you don't win premierships in round one so if we don't back it up next week then the win last night was for really for nothing.

"The boys are very sore, it was a good local derby played in the right spirit."

Crain also praised his side's captain Rhys Osborne for his efforts in the midfield.

"He had one of the best games I've seen him play in a long while as skipper and leading in the middle of the park, Glenn Sheahan and Matt Walker were good but the boys stuck to the game plan."

"It wasn't anything fancy or anything pretty but we came to get one point and we got three."

Looking ahead to round two, Macquarie will travel to Orange to face Waratahs who are coming off a 1-1 draw with Barnestoneworth FC.

"We will be ready to go down to 'Tahs next week and do it again." he said

"I expect them to be tough, I think any team in this in competition can win on any day it's just who turns up on the night, who travels well and 'Tahs is a bit of a thicker pitch down there.

"They're very competitive and they've always had a good squad we are expecting a tough game like we had on the weekend."

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