Jack Diebold was an imposing presence in the middle for Oxley Vale Attunga on Saturday as they kept their Northern Inland Premier League finals hopes alive with a two goal win over Demon Knights at Chaffey Park.
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The Mushies conceded goals early and late in the game but slotted four in between to prevail 4-2 and remain on level pegging, on points, with fourth-placed North Companions, who thumped East Armidale 6-nil up in Armidale.
They do have the advantage of a game in hand on Companions but don't have an easy finish to the regular season with third-placed South Armidale and competition leaders Tamworth FC to play.
"The points were massive for us," Mushies coach Mitchell O'Keefe said.
"If we didn't get them we were looking at not playing finals."
After going down 1-nil inside the first first minutes from what in O'Keefe's view was a bit of a defensive slip-up on his sides part, he said their heads did drop for a little bit.
But as they started to create more chances their heads picked up, Diebold scoring in the shades of half-time to put them on level terms at the break.
O'Keefe said it was a "massive" goal for them.
"It's a big difference going in 1-all to going in 1-nil down," he said.
Not only does it back on a level playing field but it takes away some of the frustration that can build up when you are creating chances, as the Mushies were, but not being able to finish them.
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Cale Penrith, who was a constant threat up front and outwide, then put them ahead early in the second half.
A couple of minutes later O'Keefe capitalised on some strong work from Penrith and double their advantage. After beating two DK defenders to the ball in the middle of the park Penrith opened up some space for himself on the left and unleashed.
The shot shaved the post but O'Keefe was johnny on the spot to pick up the scraps and bury the ball in the back of the net.
From there the Mushies really controlled the game.
Diebold, who finished with a double, was integral in that, O'Keefe remarking that he "had a fair bit of mongrel in him".
"Every challenge he wanted the ball more," he said.
"He made their players not want to go through the middle, made them go wide."
That then made them easy for Will Menz and Lachlan Browne to pick off, the pair consistently diffusing DK's raids before they could really threaten.
O'Keefe said it was good to finish some goals.
"It's happened a few games that we've created chances but that last touch hasn't gone our way," he said.
Over at Johnson Street Tamworth FC also fought back from 1-nil down but had to settle for a share of the points as they and South Armidale played out a 1-all draw.
