A superb individual goal from Evan Goodstat in the 19th minute was all that separated Dubbo West and Bathurst 75 in the Western Premier League Championship final at Lady Cutler ovals in Dubbo on Saturday.
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The premiership winners were deserved champions after dominating virtually from the outset.
While Goodstat admitted after the game that the Panthers were technically not the best side in the series, they made up for that deficiency in other areas.
"In the finals we've been able to get away to good starts, score goals and put the pressure on our opposition," he said.
"The first half has been where we have made an impact then the guys have defended well and come up with the scrambling plays to keep the opposition out.
"I guess that's one of the reasons we have finished with the best defensive record this season. But you also have to remember we scored the most goals as well."
Goodstat and his fellow forwards, including Darrin Edwards and player of the grand final Patrick Auld, always seemed to have the advantage over their Bathurst 75 opposition.
While Bathurst's experienced men in Mark Davis, Scott Mutton and David Judge played their hearts out, their attack time and time again came to nothing as the faster Panthers were first to the ball.
However Bathurst 75 would still have to be delighted with their bid to get to the decider. In the past two weeks they have won finals matches on golden goals and came from fourth place after claiming only six wins from 18 games.
Despite going into the match as underdogs, the ultra-competitive Davis said it was disappointing to lose.
"The only difference was on the scoreboard when they scored from that runaway, otherwise I think we played pretty well," Davis said.
"We had our chances but couldn't take advantage of them. It wasn't easy out there today with the wind gusting but they (Westside) finished the better team."
With a stiff breeze coming over their shoulders, Westside started like a house on fire and in the opening 15 minutes Huntah Dent, Evan Goodstat and Darrin Edwards all just failed to take advantage of good cross balls that had the Bathurst defence at sixes and sevens.
But soon after Goodstat broke the deadlock when he sprinted away from his opposition and beat keeper Neil Cole to see Westside in front 1-0.
Not to be denied, though, Bathurst didn't give in and Westside supporters breathed a sigh of relief when a Mathew Markwick drive from 30 metres out was tapped over the top by keeper Aaron Clarke. Not long after a Clinton Mutton header sailed over the crossbar.
Chances came and went for both sides in the last 45 minutes with no change to the 1-0 half-time score.
