A first half hat-trick from Cowra striker Toby Baker piloted the Eagles to victory against Lithgow Workies Black on Sunday, ending a five-game losing streak.
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Baker netted three goals before halftime at Edgell Park, as the Eagles catapulted to an unassailable five goal lead at the break.
Workies struck first in the second-half but goals to Will Baker and Mikey Howarth secured the 7-1 round 12 Bathurst Football Association Premier League win.
It was a relieving result for coach Adam Gambrill.
“We’ve had a tough run against top opposition but it was the way we were playing that was disappointing,” Adam Gambrill said.
“We were really dominant in that first half and we put them away.
“We kept creating opportunities and we capitalised.
“We need to use this as a turning point in the season and come home strong.”
Baker opened the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes, putting away a nice cross from Shaun Mortyne.
He added his second and third soon after, then Mortyne converted a penalty and registered a second moments before the break to give Cowra a 5-0 lead.
Workies opened their account moments after the restart but goals to Will Baker and Mikey Howarth stamped Cowra’s win.
Gambrill said his players lost a bit of intent during the second-half but was overall pleased to get back in the winners circle.
“It’s tough to maintain concentration when you have a lead that size,” Gambrill said.
“The intensity dropped a bit but that was bound to happen.”
It’s an important win for the Cowra side who has slipped out of the top four after five losses on the trot.
Gambrill’s targeting the next three weeks in an effort to pile the pressure on the sides above the Eagles on the competition ladder.
“It’s pretty close between a few sides fighting it out for third and fourth place probably,” he said.
“Even if you crawl into the finals you need some momentum otherwise you’re just making up the numbers.
“We have a reasonable run home so that allows us to hopefully build some momentum.”
Panorama FC Red and CSU White look to be in a race for the minor premiership, while sides including Cowra, Mudgee, Workies Gold and Abercrombie FC appear to be chasing the third and fourth spots.
Gambrill’s confident the side is capable of knocking over any rival in the competition.
“Our best performance, we can compete and take it to any team,” he said.
This week there’s a general bye.
After that, the Eagles are at home against CSU Red.
