Despite smashing the minor premiers in a stunning result and booking a place in the grand final, Macquarie United isn’t getting carried away.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The men in sky blue produced a clinical performance at the Lady Cutler Complex on Sunday, handing the Bulls a 6-1 defeat in the Dubbo and District Football Association first grade major semi-final.
The Bulls went into the clash as hot favourites having lost just once on the way to taking out the minor premiership.
Macquarie club coach and first grade player Alan Auld described the result as “comprehensive” but celebrations didn’t go on too long as the side harked back to last year.
“We were 4-1 up and then had a player sent off but still managed to score a couple more goals,” he said.
“But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We were in a similar situation last season when we won but then Bulls beat us in the grand final.”
Auld further downplayed Sunday’s victory by saying it was a “tough” game but it just came down to the fact his side was more clinical in front of goals.
Evan Goodstat scored a hat-trick in the victory and was one of the standouts while the Macquarie United midfield also bossed the Bulls and kept things ticking over.
It was a vastly improved performance from a side which suffered a 2-0 loss to South Dubbo Wanderers in the final round.
“We flew out of the blocks and led 3-0 after about 15 minutes,” Auld said.
“Compared to last week we just converted our chances and played some really good football.
Compared to last week we just converted our chances and played some really good football.
- Macquarie's Alan Auld
“The scorelines is good but we just took our chances while they had four or five real shots but couldn’t capitalise.
“So although to scoreline was good it was a tough and hard game to be fair, Bulls were not at their best but they are a quality team so I expect them to bounce back this weekend against the Wanderers.”
The Wanderers kept their season alive after taking out a thrilling minor semi-final.
In a match where many expected Wanderers to cruise, Orana Spurs produced one of its best efforts of the year.
Despite winning just once all season and finishing with the wooden spoon, Spurs were guaranteed a finals place due to there being just four sides in first grade.
And they made the most of it on Sunday, sticking it to Wanderers before the latter escaped with a 5-4 victory.
Auld wasn’t buying into next weekend’s game, refusing to pick a winner but he said it was fair to say Dubbo FC deserved to make the decider having been the best side throughout the regular season.
The focus of Macquarie is inward as three players are certain to miss the decider.
Leigh Rice’s red card on Sunday means he will miss out while Adam Quill is gone after suffering a broken bone in his foot and Brad Turner departs for college studies.
In the women’s first grade competition, the Wellington Wildcats edged out Macquarie United to be the first side through to the grand final.
The Wildcats, which finished second to Macquarie after the regular season, will now enjoy a weekend off while the United side takes on RSL 78s in Sunday morning’s preliminary final.
RSL 78s eased by Dubbo FC 6-0 in the weekend’s minor semi-final.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
