Macquarie United coach Paul Crain insists "it's not all doom and gloom" despite his side missing out on the chance to enter the Western Premier League's top five on Saturday.
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Macquarie took on Barnstoneworth United at Apex Oval and it was a key match for both sides as the Orange outfit started the weekend just one point above Crain's troops.
But that gap has now widened following Barnies 2-1 win.
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.
Macquarie had only minutes before got themselves back in the game courtesy of a Duncan Logan own goal, after Brock Logan had earlier fired the Orange side in front inside the opening minute of the match.
"That's a tough game for us," Crain said.
"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."
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As much as the result hurt, Macquarie remains outside the top five only on goal difference.
Parkes is also on 11 competition points and remains in the all-important fifth spot despite a 4-2 loss to Dubbo FC in the second of two matches played at Apex Oval on Saturday.
"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," Crain said.
"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.
We might have lost that game but the guys aren't playing too bad and that's pleasing.
- Paul Crain
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.
"We're missing three (players) but that's no excuse because they guys who go on the field have got to do a job and they didn't do that," Crain said after full-time.
"I still think we've got some momentum. We might have lost that game but the guys aren't playing too bad and that's pleasing.
"We've got next week and we'll come back and try again."
Macquarie travels to Mudgee to play the last-placed Wolves next round.
Wolves are fresh from scoring a morale-boosting 2-all draw with Macquarie's fellow Dubbo side, Orana Spurs.
Both sides conceded an own goal in Saturday's clash and while Jared Corby scored another for Spurs it wasn't enough.
Spurs remain third despite the result but sit four points off second-placed Waratahs, who have a game in hand.
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