Troy Hearfield made a surprise return as Tamworth FC made it two from two to start their Northern Inland Football Premier Division campaign with two perfectly-executed sideline crosses.
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Kurt Barrow and Josh Bartlett combined for both goals as they defeated Gunnedah FC 2-nil.
Bartlett headed in the first from a cross from Barrow, the two then reversing roles.
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At the other end they were like a fort. Coach Wayne May couldn't recall the keeper having to really make a save.
Hearfield was pivotal in that.
May had expected to be without last year's grand final hero this season, but said he is working back in Tamworth and has decided to have a run with them again.
He said he had been training with the club but it was only in the last week that he decided to play. They won't have him every weekend but some is better than none.
Backing up from a 4-1 opening round win over South United, May said they were still "a little bit scratchy" but thought it was a better performance than the previous week.
"We'll just build on that," he said.
"We're gaining a bit of momentum."
They did suffer a blow in the first half with Jarryd Mackellar jarring his knee into the ground (May is hoping that is all it is)
"He was combining with Kurt (Barriw) up front and looking good," May said.
"It was their first game together."
It forced a reshuffle with Ngygen Nguyen pushing up front and Tristan Reed coming on for his third game in the space of 22 hours (he had played third grade on Friday night and then reserve grade) on the flank.
As was the case with Souths the week before, it was their first time facing Gunnedah.
"They're quite a good side," May said.
"I was pretty impressed with them. They'll win a few games."
Another new challenge awaits them this Saturday against the also unbeaten Mountain Goats.
"I'm looking forward to playing the Mountain Goats, seeing how they go," he said.
Gunnedah coach Andy Cygan said they will take a lot of positives away.
"It was a big improvement on the week before especially defensively," he said.
"We showed a lot more effort," he said.
They were also a lot more physical.
Some positional changes also seemed to make a difference.
"We dropped Matt Daley back into centre defence with Matt Davis," he said.
"It just gave is a bit more pace back there."
"He was able to clear things up and was good there."
