PORT United can close to within two points of a semi-final spot with a victory over Kempsey Saints on Saturday at Dixie Park.
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It was a scenario that appeared highly unlikely when they slumped to their third successive defeat with a 2-0 loss to Wallis Lake four weeks ago.
Since then they’ve won two of their next three with a 1-0 defeat to Macleay Valley Rangers the only red mark on coach Chris Walsh’s notebook.
In that match they had a player sent off and were unlucky not to pick up at least a point after creating numerous chances.
Slowly but surely, the Green Bloods have been getting players back from injury and suspension.
Winger Brendan Prince and striker Matt Broderick are the only players who will miss this weekend’s match.
Both are on holidays.
Fresh from a hat-trick in his last match, Jarrod Kohler will come into the starting lineup.
“We won’t lose anything by having him replace Broderick; I’m sure a lot of coaches would like to be in our position,” Walsh said.
A 1-0 win in the last encounter between the two sides was United’s only win in the first six weeks which will provide Walsh and his men with cause for optimism.
“They’re a quick side who will try to get in behind us,” Walsh said.
One man who will have his work cut out to keep the Kempsey strikers quiet is captain and central defender Lucas Heagney.
Heagney has been a mainstay for United over the last four years, with the previous three spent as vice-captain before he was given the captain’s armband for the 2016 season.
“Lucas went missing in the pre-season but then we found him and he turned up at training,” Walsh said.
“He’s a stalwart of the club and a key player for us. He never lets us down.”
Having a player of Heagney’s calibre calling the shots in defence was a luxury any coach would like to have.
“He hardly ever makes a mistake and is extremely reliable,” Walsh said.
Meanwhile, Port Saints’ unlikely charge towards a finals position won’t get any easier when they head to Boronia Park to tackle Wallis Lake.
Coach Mark Rogers prefers to look at it as a positive.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to go up against one of the top sides again,” he said.
“I’m still optimistic about the final outcome this year because there’s still points on offer.”
He did, however, acknowledge his side needed to be able to turn the momentum when things started to go against them.
“Everyone skis well when you’re going downhill,” he said.
“When we switch off it’s a collective effort and sometimes you don’t necessarily get wiser as you get older.”