IT was a lot tougher than the opening match, but the Muswellbrook Eagles continued their bright start to the football season with a victory over Dudley Redhead at the weekend.
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In their first home game of the year, which was played on the top field at Victoria Park as the main pitch undergoes ground maintenance, the Eagles scraped through for a 2-1 win thanks to a late goal from striker Andrew Spradbrow.
It's been a fantastic start to the season for the team's talisman and club president, who now has five from two games and is showing the advantages of experience and the ability to read the play.
The opening goal came early as a result of a penalty, following a crude challenge on Cody Tsaousis, who was in on goal after bursting past the opposition fullback to get onto an aerial ball played by Andrew Nolan.
It took until the final 10 minutes for the winner though, after Kurt Huber made a stunning run down the left wing.
He danced past several players and made it to the touchline before cutting the ball back inside to Spradbrow for a simple finish.
The players' player award was a landslide.
However, it was not the goal-sneak who picked up the award; instead the aforementioned Nolan was rewarded for his spectacular efforts in the centre back role.
The Irishman mopped the ball up in defence all game, making crucial interceptions and last-ditch challenges to prevent conceding a second goal.
He was particularly prominent 15 minutes either side of the break, when the team was under immense pressure and he was forced to be awake to every threat.
It was a very heated first half, with several yellow cards being brandished and multiple scuffles breaking out as some players fell victim to white line fever.
While it was a gritty and important win, it didn't come without a downside as star midfielder Lindsey Smith seemingly re-injured his hip.
In his first game back for over a year, he played out the first 30 minutes with his trademark mix of poise and intensity, but hobbled off after taking a pot shot from 40 yards.
He came back on after half-time but remained in a more defensive role that required less movement, and was visibly sore after the final whistle.
The Eagles will be hoping the injury isn't serious, as they look to field their strongest squad possible in coming weeks as they hope to keep their spot on top of the table.
Going around the grounds, South Wallsend got the better of Cooks Hill with a 3-2 result, Lambton Jaffas continued their perfect start with a 1-0 home victory over Medowie and Hamilton Azzurri flexed their muscles against Lake Macquarie with a 6-3 win.
In the D grade, Muswellbrook got themselves on the board after running out 5-2 winners over Merewether Advance.
Following their disappointing 2-0 loss last week, they were keen to rectify themselves in front of the home crowd on Friday night, and hit full stride as the pacey attack run riot.
Rising star Callan Cridland delivered upon his preseason hype with a first half hat trick to pick up player's player, before coach Clinton Lanesbury bagged a brace to secure the three points.
They sit fourth on their table due to other results on the weekend, which saw Beresfield go down 1-4 at home to Tenambit Sharks FC, Toronto Awaba ride out a 5-3 over Maryland Fletcher and Garden Suburb take home the points in a seven goal stunner against Mayfield Junior, with the former getting the crucial fourth goal.