Barnstoneworth United has maintained its stranglehold on the Western Premier League's top four with a stunning 2-1 win over Macquarie in Dubbo.
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A perfect free-kick from Kenny McCall was the highlight for Barnies and it proved to be the match winner inside the final 15 minutes.
As one of Barnies' key men in front of goal this season, McCall has found the back of the net multiple times but says Saturday's winner was his best of the 2021 season so far.
"I thought I was a good chance and may as well have a crack. I could see the corner, I just backed myself to hit it and got it," McCall said.
Macquarie took on Barnies at Apex Oval and it was a key match for both sides as the Orange outfit started the weekend just one point above their Dubbo rivals, but courtesy of the crucial win the red and whites now enjoy a four-point buffer over the now-fifth placed Parkes Cobras and Macquarie, also on 11 points but now down in sixth spot.
The 2021 finals will be played by a top five, but finishing in in top four ensures a home final.
"That's a tough game for us," Macquarie coach Paul Crain said.
I believe we aren't too far away and coming into the end of the season if we pick up points against the teams below us we'll be somewhere there.
- Macquarie mentor Paul Crain
"The issue is we let an early goal in, inside 30 seconds, and we didn't come back from it.
"To get back into the game was pleasing but the end result is disappointing because we needed those three points.
"I believe we aren't too far away and coming into the end of the season if we pick up points against the teams below us we'll be somewhere there.
"It's not all doom and gloom. They (Barnies) will end up third or fourth and they're a good squad and we played well, but they beat us 2-1 and we made some mistakes so we'll move on."
Macquarie entered the match again down on troops, most notably key midfielder-turned-defender Connor Crain, while Barnstoneworth made the most of a real height advantage and was able to win countless headers in the middle of the park to take control of play.
Logan's early strike had give the visitors all the momentum and Macquarie struggled to create any clear cut chances in the opening half.
In the second half things opened up a little but it appeared Macquarie had missed its chance to equalise after failing to make the most of a sustained period of possession.
But then, almost from nowhere, a long ball forward was headed backwards by Barnies defender Duncan Logan, only for it to go past his keeper and into the net.
It seemed to energise the hosts but in a matter of minutes they were behind again.
After conceding a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box the Macquarie bench and coach yelled at their side to get more players in the wall.
It didn't happen and that left McCall with a clear sight at goal and he was good enough to take it, and his shot nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
"It's tight in the middle of the table, so it's good to pull away, good for that confidence," McCall added, ahead of his side's monster clash with Dubbo FC in Orange this weekend.
"Definitely, another Dubbo team. Josh spoke about believing in each other and enjoying it ... that's when we play our best."
McCall said star mid-fielder Grant Koch had another impressive game, too.
"He wins all the 50-50 ball in the air," he added.
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