Gunnedah FC remain three points clear at the top of the Tamworth soccer league after a 7-0 whitewash of Kootingal on Saturday.
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The ladder leaders made light work of last-placed Kootingal with goals to Sam Hos, Matt Williams, Andy Cygan, Harry Pollock and two to striker Rob Pryor.
But best of the day went Michael Cooke in great run from defence.
From one Englishman to another, player-coach Andy Cygan described the goal as “pure class”, where he beat several players on his way forward before bending the shot past the keeper to score.
Given the ladder positions, Cygan said it was a game they were expected to win.
Less certain was the club’s reserve grade side which rebounded from 1-0 down to win 4-1 against Kootingal.
“It’s our first win in four weeks, we needed that,” Cygan said. “That should put us second in the comp.”
Cygan bagged a treble while Adam Winner scored the fourth goal of the match.
But tough times could be in wait as the club loses two key players in as many weeks.
“We lost our keeper (Tom Crumbley) last week, he went overseas,” Cygan said. “And midfielder Thomas Schneider leaves this week, he’s been farming. So we’re down to 24 players [two grades] which is not enough.”
The staffing problem is made more urgent given their back-to-back games this weekend. They play Hillvue in Tamworth on Saturday, followed by a wash-out “make-up” game against home-town Quirindi on Sunday.
“[Quirindi] will be a hard game. They've improved all year and have been beating good sides,” he said.
