Barnstoneworth United gun Kenny McCall says his side's meteoric rise up the 2021 Western Premier League ladder is all about belief and he has no doubt they belong "up with the top teams".
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The red and whites started their campaign slowly but over the course of the last six weeks Josh Ward's side has stormed into the league's top four.
The Barnies boys didn't enjoy a win until round six, that 5-0 flogging of Panorama an emphatic way to open up their account in 2021.
It was then followed by an equally dominant 7-0 thrashing of Mudgee, a win over Macquarie United and then a narrow loss against cross-town rivals Waratahs.
A stunning, road victory over the sky blues last weekend in Dubbo further solidified that top four standing for Barnies and, leading into Saturday's massive clash with premiers Dubbo FC, McCall says his side has the confidence to be able to match it with the league's big dogs at Jack Brabham.
"I think at the moment it's tight in the middle of the table so it was good to pull away ... good for that confidence," McCall said, his goal the difference in a 2-1 victory over one of the league's chasing sides, Macquarie.
We know we have the ability but it definitely took a couple of weeks to gel.
- Kenny McCall on Barnies' slow start to 2021
"Josh has spoken about believing in each other and enjoying it, and that's when we play our best.
"We know we have the ability but it definitely took a couple of weeks to gel."
McCall says, despite the scores locked at 1-all for a long period of time, he never doubted Barnies' ability to secure maximum points last week.
"To be honest, we knew we were the better team," he added.
And it's that confidence, born from belief, that will have McCall's men ready to fire against the ladder-leading Bulls.
The Dubbo club won the corresponding clash with Barnies' 2-1 back in round three.
"We think we have the ability to be up there with the top teams," he said.
"We only lost to (second-placed) Waratahs by a goal and we gave them a good game.
"We've got the ability but just want to make the finals, and it's a different game when you get to that point of the season."
In other games to round out the WPL's 12th round, Waratahs hit the road to tackle Workies in Lithgow, Macquarie will look to get back into the winners circle when they travel to Mudgee to take on the improving Wolves and Panorama's flat-lining 2021 campaign will go on the line against Orana in Dubbo. The Parkes Cobras have the bye.
Barnies host the Bulls from 3.15pm at Jack Brabham on Saturday.
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