Mudgee Wolves | 1
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Macquarie United | 0
They were frustrating as much as they were, at times, brilliant.
But the main thing the Mudgee Wolves second grade side were yesterday, was better than their opponents as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Macquarie United at Glen Willow.
Befitting a young side that is still short of full-match fitness due to factors outside their control this season, Mudgee continue to be a side on the rise.
The sensational touches and vision up front by Josh Sandry, Brandon Roth and company was contrasted by several audacious saves by goalkeeper Ryan Tyrell.
Mudgee coach Michael Sandry said he was happy with the win but knows his side has not come close to their ceiling this season.
“We started very poorly I the first half but we picked up after that. The boys are trying very hard to put some good passes together and I picked up on that,” Sandry said.
“I thought we had the momentum after the goal, and we did look good. The boys are finally starting to take what they are doing and putting on the park, but it’s a work in progress.
“If it’s played earlier and you move on, you create more opportunists.
“They just have to learn to play quicker, not to hold onto it and they will become a pretty a good side.”
The game started on a sober note with a minutes silence for the sudden and tragic passing of Wolves stalwart Graham Boyd.
'I thought all of the guys played well at the back for much of today. And I am very lucky that I have got guys that I can slot in right across the backline if I need to.'
Once hostilities started, Brandon Roth was in the game early as he peppered away at the last line for the visitors.
Macquarie had plenty of men behind the ball in the early going, however, Roth and Josh Sandry combined well as they slowly chipped away.
Grant Welch caused problems for the Wolves defence due to his speed with a one-on-one with Mudgee goalkeeper Ryan Tyrell before the contact against the gloveman was ruled illegal.
Tyrell showed how promising a ‘keeper he could become with two excellent reflex, one-on0-one saves that kept his side in the hunt in the first 45 minutes.
“I thought Ryan had a screaming half. He’s coming very well and he’s like a sponge, in that he just soaks up all of the information we give him,” Sandry said.
Mudgee continued to try and play positively but often became frustrated as the last past did not find the feet of their teammate.
The deadlock was broken when Josh Sandry broke through and backed himself as he shaped up to James Maynell in goal for Macquarie, with the Wolves’ shot threading the needle at the near post.
“Josh (Sandry) and Brandon (Roth) they do extraordinary things together, and they are still coming together which is amazing,” the Mudgee coach said.
“And then you bring Nathan Payne into the mix, he just adds even more to those two.”
Mudgee carried the narrow lead into the break before much of the second half turned into an arm-wrestle where clean shots on goal were rare.
Macquarie did threaten to steal a point late in the game several times, but they were pressured into taking off-balance shots by the hard-working Wolves defenders.
“I thought all of the guys played well at the back for much of today. And I am very lucky that I have got guys that I can slot in right across the backline if I need to,” Sandry said.