The Woolpack Hotel Mudgee Wolves completed a clean sweep of games at Glen Willow last Saturday and maintained their lead at the top of the Bathurst District Soccer Second Grade premiership ladder.
In a goal-less first half the Wolves played good football but were unable to find the net but were unlucky not to score with the Panda goalkeeper making two good saves.
Captain Peter Mitchell said the Wolves lacked finish when in the goal square.
“ We spoke about that at half time and about continuing with our game plan,” Mitchell said.
“I believe we had dominated the game and that we were playing to our plan and just lacked fininhing.
“We called on our players to concentrate on their cross passes as well and felt that with Panda a man down for the rest of the game, goals would come.”
Two yellow cards over two ugly challenges by a Panda player after about 25 minutes reduced the visitors to 10 men.
When play resumed it took 25 minutes and a great goal shot to the top left corner by Callum Ruming after he made a right side break from general play for the first score of the game to be posted.
Ruming’s shot at goal went over the keeper’s head into the top left corner of the net.
Sam Downes, brother to Ollyroos squad member Aaron Downes, came off the bench for his first game for the Wolves top team this year and put his stamp on the game when he tapped in a goal after a rebound off the Panda keeper.
The Wolves sealed a 3-0 win when Ryan Leonard showed his individual brilliance to run 60 metres with the ball, beat five defenders and then produced a stunning finish to put the ball in the top left corner of the net.
Callum Ruming was players player while Ryan Leonard and Michael Woods were among the Wolves best players for the game.
The Wolves are at home under lights again tomorrow night at 6pm when they play Young in the second grade competition.
Mitchell said the Wolves will have key defender Jason Payne back on Saturday night after being sidelined through injury while Andrew Kiepert and Brendan Tobin, who both had work commitments last weekend, will also be available.
In the earlier games last Saturday the Ladies Wolves kept their premiership hopes on track with a 5-0 win while the Men’s second team advanced their top five claims with a 6-3 win in the third Grade competition.
The women and the Wolves seconds play at home this Sunday.