A HAT trick of goals before half-time by teenager Caelin Langley laid the foundation for Dunsborough Towners to record a memorable 4-3 victory over Premier League leaders Bunbury United in a thriller at the Dunsborough Playing Fields on Sunday.
It was also a red letter day for the Dunsborough’s women who recorded their biggest winning margin with a 10-0 demolition of Manjimup earlier in the day and sit fifth on the 17 team league ladder.
Once again it was the goal-scoring feats of Safyr Iriks who had a field day scoring six goals to boost her tally to 12 goals in the last four matches and earning the Dunsborough Dry Cleaning player of the match award.
Chipping in was the ever reliable Belle Armstrong with two goals while Charlotte Delatte and Gen Grieves added one each.
Unfortunately, Dunsborough’s reserves let slip a winning margin to lose 4-2 with David Norris named the Peko Peko Restaurant man of the match.
In the Premiere league match Langley, who was judged the Eagle Bay Brewery man of the match, demonstrated that despite his youth he is not out of place among the men, especially as he was brought in to replace another teenage striker in the injured Tim Pidgeon.
His goals in the 21st and 32nd minutes came when he broke with pace through the Bunbury defence and with a calmness that belied his youth and inexperience at this level slotted home with only the goalkeeper to beat.
His second goal in the 27th minute was the result of winger Jon Seo’s ability to wriggle through a packed defence and feed Langely inside the penalty area for him to score with a deflection.
A 24th minute equaliser from Bunbury’s best player, Aaron Brittain, came from a superb volley that found the top left hand corner of the net.
With the half time scored 3-1 in Dunsborough’s favour they appeared to be coasting when Kaden Heathcote added a fourth in the 49th minute.
But from this moment Bunbury went on the rampage commanding the midfield with outstanding teamwork, unceasing pressure and a stream of free kicks that tested the Towners defence, a test they passed with flying colours.
Even when Bunbury scored two unstoppable goals from a Danny Ibis header in the 65th minute and a Brittain 35 metre free kick in the 79th minute there was a feeling that Dunsborough would hold on.
Results:
Premier League: Dunsborough Towners 4, Bunbury City 3.
Reserves: Dunsborough Towners 2, Bunbury United 4.
Women’s League: Dunsborough Towners 10, Manjimup 0.
