Impressive victory forces Bunbury above drop zone

The Bunbury Forum Force lifted themselves away from the relegation zone with an impressive 3-1 victory over the Western Knights at Payne Park on Saturday.

The Force went four points clear of the bottom-placed Knights, getting some breathing space from their lowly ranked opponents with just four matches remaining in the 2012 State Premier League season.

Ghanaian striker Bright Ababio was the hero for the Force, scoring a goal in each half to lead his team to its most important victory of the season.

Player-coach Matt Lock and defender Jarrod Mort were also impressive, as was budding front-man Jayden Prosser, who finished with a goal and an assist to his name.

The courage of gloveman Ryan Montgomery was also outstanding, playing on after reinjuring his knee early in the match and producing a number of good saves late in the second half.

The Force were on top all afternoon, a side from a 10-minute burst from the Knights late in the match.

Bunbury hit the ground running in the opening half with a brilliant display of attacking soccer.

Ababio and Aaron Brittain both had golden chances in the opening five minutes, but failed to capitalise on their opportunities.

After relentless pressure for the first 10 minutes, the home team broke the deadlock through the head of man-of-the-moment Ababio.

One became two for Bunbury late in the first half with Prosser’s shot catching a deflection off Western Knights’ keeper Alex Brincat before dribbling into the net.

Leading 2-0 at the break, Lock’s men continued to build relentless pressure on the shellshocked Knights defence.

The new strike combination of Ababio and Prosser worked well together and the pair combined for Bunbury’s third goal when Prosser’s long ball found the Ghanaian one-on-one with Brincat.

Ababio slotted past the outstretched gloveman to make things difficult for the visitors.

Bunbury then turned into defensive mode and soaked up valuable time.

The Knights got a late consolation goal through Rory Grant.