Towners grab glory in thrilling title race

Dunsborough Towners won the Southwest Soccer Association Premier League title on Sunday, taking the title on goal difference over the Dalyellup Rangers.

Entering Sunday’s fixture, Towners were locked at the top of the table with the Rangers on equal points and goal differences.

The Towners faced Bunbury United and Dalyellup took on Hay Park United, with the games being played at the same time on adjoining grounds in Bunbury.

In an unbelievable night, Towners won 9-0 and Dalyellup 8-0 handing Dunsborough a one-point win in on goal difference.

Leading scorer Ryan Martin led the way with four goals, with Ryan Francis netting two and, Danny Kane, Ethan Delatte and an own goal completing the scoring.

The club have secured a long-term deal with winning playing coach Jack Eades as they look forward to the construction of a new soccer stadium in Dunsborough and Eades said changing the expectations of the senior club to include a “winning mentality” was integral to the team’s success.

“The first thing we said to the group two years ago was to take our talent a bit more seriously and expect to win things,” he said.

“I challenged the group to lift the standard and win as many things as possible and we’ve noticed a massive change in the club from that point of view.”

Eades said the focus going into the game was to play the Dunsborough way.

“I just said to the boys we had to focus on our game which has led us to score well all season,” he said.

“We couldn’t control what Dalyellup did but we could control the way we played.

“I know the benefit of having a good structure and environment from my time in England. Credit goes to the playing group — we had five players who finished the game who are under 19 years old.”

It is the first time the Towners have won the title and they now hold last season’s Premier League Cup and the Pioneer Cup, the South West version of the FA Cup, and will look to defend all trophies in 2021 after an off-season where the club will look to replace several players who will pursue opportunities in Perth.