Bunbury United appear to have one hand on the 2016 Premier League football title following an entertaining hard fought 3-0 win over Dunsborough Towners at the Soccerdrome in Bunbury on Sunday.
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Bunbury have three matches left and hold a six-point lead over challengers Dalyellup Rangers who beat cellar dwellers Eaton-Dardanup 4-0 in Dalyellup.
Bunbury must take at least four of the remaining nine points available to secure the title and form suggests that they should achieve that mark in their next two games against Eaton-Dardanup and Margaret River.
But Dunsborough, despite their loss on Sunday, demonstrated that nothing can be taken for granted.
Bunbury deserved their win, but the scoreline was flattering to the home side with a supposedly- weakened Dunsborough providing stern opposition.
Bunbury looked the more composed combination from defence through the midfield but found it difficult to break down the 4-4-2 system that coach Chris Blackburn had cobbled together.
Youngsters Luke Wright and Baxter Hutchinson continue to impress in Dunsborough’s midfield and along with Matt Brown, the Emu Brewery man of the match, neutralised Bunbury’s quality midfield of Aaron Brittain and Danny Kane for long periods
Defensively Dunsborough denied Bunbury the opportunity to breakthrough with goalkeeper Justin Barker producing a series of outstanding saves throughout the match that kept Dunsborough in the game.
Unfortunately, he had no answer to a blistering shot on the run from the left wing by Daniel Abbis in the 20th minute that crashed into the far post before slicing into the net for what should be a contender for the goal of the year.
A hesitation between Barker and defender Roy Arts in the 34th minute ended with Arts, under pressure, lobbing an own goal over Barker to provide Bunbury with a 2-0 half time lead.
Dunsborough had their chances with a lob from Mitch Buttsworth and a 25 metre dipping free kick from Ethan DeLatte beating Bunbury goalkeeper Blaze Rosinski but not the crossbar.
The game was decided in the 80th minute when Kane finally found space and time to release Brittain with a through ball who put the result beyond doubt from close range with only Barker to beat.
Bunbury made it a double celebration when they defeated The Towners 5-3 in the reserves with David Condiri votes the Peko Peko Restaurant man of the match.
United are now six points clear of Dalyellup on the premier league ladder.
