HENWOOD Park enhanced their reputation as the competition front-runners with an impressive 4-0 win over Tolland at Rawlings Park on Sunday.
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The top-of-the-table clash failed to live up to it's billing as Henwood Park proved far too good for Tolland, ending the Wolves' undefeated start to the season.
It was the Hawks who remain unbeaten, with striker Jake Ploenges scoring Henwood Park's first two goals before leaving the field halfway through the second half with a hamstring injury.
Henwood Park went into half-time 1-0 ahead with both teams creating opportunities in the opening stanza.
Once Ploenges scored his second, a brilliant left-footed strike from outside the box into the top left corner, it became all Henwood Park.
Damon Watson produced a cracking strike from a free kick, before Cameron Weir finished off the job with his team's fourth goal.
Henwood Park coach Scott Elphick enjoyed the win against his old club but was more impressed with the football his team produced to get the result.
"I had nothing to say at half-time, we just needed to tighten up our one-twos a little bit and slow down when we need to slow down but we stuck to the team task. My exact words were, win or lose I don't care, we stuck to the team task at half-time," Elphick said.
"I was actually nervous, against Tolland. It's lifted the boys too, as well. Because they put a lot of soul and heart into today. They wanted to get that pass, they wanted to finish and they wanted to get into the 14 zone and have a crack."
Henwood Park started the season with wins over Hanwood and Leeton United. They were held to a draw against Wagga United last week, a result that Elphick believes helped them.
"It's funny at training on Thursday night, because we trained so hard on Tuesday after playing United, I actually let the guys do what they wanted for the last 15 minutes and I walked away. Just to give them some piece of mind and a muck around," he said.
"I think too we needed that little bit of a kick from United, just to pull us all back into line again."
In other Pascoe Cup results, a double to Patrick Hislop helped Young claim a 2-2 draw with Hanwood in Griffith. The result keeps the Lions in the top four.
Leeton were forced to work for their 2-1 win over Tumut.
Pascoe Cup results
Leeton 2 (C Edenden, OG) d Tumut 1 (E Contessa)
Hanwood FC 2 (M Cimador, D Johnson) drew with Young 2 (P Hislop 2)
Henwood Park 4 (J Ploenges 2, D Watson, C Weir) d Tolland 0
Wagga United 0 drew with Lake Albert 0
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