Port Saints ensured the Coastal Premier League reserve grade premiership isn’t just a two-horse race when they leapfrogged Coffs City United and Coffs Coast into the competition lead at Findlay Park on Monday.
The 5-0 win over Taree Wildcats extended Saints’ perfect record to seven wins from seven matches.
Impressively, a number of players who have first grade experience had a run around after being unable to break into their CPL top side due to injury.
Saints are the only side not to have dropped a single point in their opening seven matches and with games in hand, they could soon find themselves jumping Coffs City and Coffs Coast into the competition lead.
Captain Ollie King said it was pleasing for the club to be able to have so much depth to call on.
“We’ve got 30 players in the squad this year and when you get a home game all 30 are available but when it’s away you only have 23 available,” he said.
“That’s how it is when you play an hour and a half away every second week and I knew that we’d need a big squad going into the year.
“People have family, kids and responsibilities with work and all that sort of stuff so I knew we’d have to be realistic. Having a big squad works for me because we’ve got more options.”
Saints’ victory was only their second home game for the season and King is hopeful the recent dry run will continue so they can play their catch-up fixtures.
The Port Macquarie side and Taree Wildcats are the two clubs to have played the fewest amount of games so far this campaign.
“It’s going to be a busy few weeks if it stays dry because we’ve got catchup games against Port United, then Coffs Tigers and Coffs United at home.
“That means we’re potentially going to have to play double-headers over the next few weeks.”
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