Premier Division: Harry Pollock hat-trick fires South United to 4-1 win over North Companions

Since picking up their first win for the season against Norths in their first round meeting, Souths have posted four wins and a draw and put themselves in the frame for a top two finish.

Saturday's win took them to level with second-placed Gunnedah FC (who had the bye) on 17 points and importantly also pushed them four points clear of Northies in fourth.

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Stand-in coach Justin Pendergast said they had their work cut out for them and to get the three points puts them "in a good spot for the run home".

There is "still a pretty long season to go", he acknowledged. They are just over half-way through.

But from the "rocky start" they had (they lost their first three) to be in the position they are has been a good turnaround.

Pendergast believes their club culture is one of the big reasons for that.

"We've got a good first grade squad," he said.

The fact that they have been able to field pretty much the same team week-in week-out - a luxury they didn't have earlier in the season - has also helped.

On Saturday they found themselves down 1-nil inside the first 10 minutes.

"Unlike the Souths from last year, it didn't really rattle us," Pendergast said.

"We managed to strike back 10-15 minutes later."

From there he felt like they had the momentum.

Northies did, he said, stage a bit of a fightback towards the end, but their fourth goal "put an end to that".

One of the things that helped them get on top was the slow play out of the back coach Darrel Mole has got them doing.

Their strikers also finished well. That has been one of the big differences to last year.

"Our strikers compared to last year are finishing our chances," Pendergast said.

"They're probably finishing 50 per cent."

Blake Hawker was their other goalscorer.

Along with Pollock, Pendergast said Luke Wilson also had a very strong game. Playing in the midfield, he "won back a lot of possession".

This weekend coming is a general bye for the competition due to the National Primary Games, but Souths have organised to play their Round 14 clash with Moore Creek, which was to be played as part of a double header, on Saturday.

In the other games, Tamworth FC thumped Kootingal 8-nil and Oxley Vale Attunga brushed aside Moore Creek 5-1.

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