The Dunsborough Towners regained their composure with a solid 2-1 win over Collie in the second round of the South West Association’s Premier League Reserves competition in Collie on Sunday.

 

The return of many players to the club after as many 11 were absent from the first round for various reasons provided the coaches with a selection smorgasbord.

 

With the Premier League first team close to full strength the reserves benefited with a vast improvement in playing strength.

 

The presence of the Thompson brother Clint and Jake was a big plus and it was a telling factor in the 11th minute when Clint was the provider with a long cross that found Jake close in to turn home for the early lead.

 

For much of the first-half it was the dominance of the Towners that constantly threatened to provide them with  a comfortable half-time lead.

 

Youngster Kaden Heathcoate was menacing with his speed down the right wing, Richard Olsen played carefully as he tested out his knee but was always threatening while Thompson always looked capable of a second goal.

However, Collie’s defence did stirling work in restricting the constant pressure exerted on them.

 

It came as something of  a shock when Collie equalised in the 7th minute of the second-half  from a a superbly place free-kick by veteran Doran Thompson that caught the Dunsborough defence flatfooted.

 

No one covered the shot and a Collie player moved quickly into space behind the motionless back line into no-man’s land leaving goalkeeper Paul Andrews stranded with a neat header into the net.

 

It was a lesson the Towners defence learned quickly because of two other occasions from similar plays that danger was repelled.

 

However, for Collie these moments were few, though they looked a better side in the second-half matching Dunsborough in the possession stakes.

 

It was with some relief to the travelling Towners contingent that with only five minutes remaining a neat through ball from midfield found the Bootleg Brewery “man of the match” Clint Thompson racing through to clip the ball past the advancing goalkeeper for the winner.

 

Bootleg Brewery Player of the Match:  Clint Thompson

 

Dunsborough lilne-up: Paul Andrews, Doug Horsfeld, Iain Greig, Clint Thompson, Aiden Greig, Keiran McCabe, Richard Olsen, Tony Plumb, Craig Agar, Kaden Heathcoate, Jake Thompson