A four-goal haul from Brody Austin fired Dubbo FC to an outstanding 6-0 Western Premier League (WPL) win on the road at Lithgow on Saturday.
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The trip to Marjorie Jackson Field is the longest of any a Dubbo-based side makes in the competition but it proved no issue for the Bulls in round four of the 2021 season.
Austin was the hero while Thomas Busch and Alex Richardson-Bell also struck in the rout.
"It was Brody's first goal of the season and then he went and got four," Busch said as he heaped praise on the striker.
"Brody is good at holding the ball-up. We play into his feet and he can keep it and wait for the attack to come.
"He's just good with his back to goal and he's a good finisher, too. He's a great attacker."
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The margin of the win even took the Bulls by surprise, given Lithgow is notoriously hard to defeat at home.
The Bulls were also expecting a stern challenge as they made the trip down on troops, with only two players sitting on the bench at the start of the game.
The reshuffled lineup had co-captain Kobe Rapley and James Leonard in the centre of defence, the former having to drop back from midfield given the players unavailable.
But Rapley produced a fine showing at the back while Leonard was his consistent self as the Bulls kept the few Lithgow attacking raids at bay.
"It's probably the best we've played so far this season," Busch said.
The dominant victory continues a strong start to the season for the Dubbo side, with three consecutive wins now in the bag after an opening round loss to local rivals Macquarie United.
The result also keeps the Bulls in a share of second spot with Orana Spurs, the third Dubbo side in the competition, while undefeated Orange outfit Waratahs United remains at the top of the ladder.
"I think with that loss at the start of the season we had to pull our finger out," Busch said.
"We're getting better and better and hopefully we can just remain consistent."
With the side getting better and better, Busch and his fellow midfielders are having more joy while feeding the frontline.
While Busch has developed into one of the leading playmakers in Dubbo in recent seasons, teenager Kane Settree has joined Bulls this season and has proved a revelation in the middle of the park. The youngster was sitting atop the WPL best and fairest standings heading into the fourth round.
The Bulls may become even more dangerous in the coming weeks as former captain and midfield great Scott Fox made his first appearance of the season in the local Dubbo District Football Association competition on the weekend and may return to the WPL side shortly.
In other matches, Waratahs downed Mudgee Gulgong 3-1, Barnstoneworth and Parkes drew 3-all, and Spurs scored a resounding 4-0 derby win over Macquarie.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
