The Wolves had the bare 11 to call upon - although all on young legs - and were going to be up against it away at North Macksville to a seasoned Stingers outfit.

But it was the visitors who started with more promise and they went ahead 15 minutes in after a shot was misjudged and left unchecked.

And Woopi could well have been two to the good, only for a 'goal' to be denied when the ref ruled Macksville keeper Corey Forbes had the ball under control before a blue foot dislodged it, and then into the strings. It was a 50-50 call, and the Stingers breathed a sigh of relief.

The break was a godsend for the Stingers, who regrouped, reflected and reset, and five minutes after the resumption, the mercurial Brodie Bartlett - who fluffed a first half shot on an open goal - made no mistake.

And the lads in red started to find something of a groove, as Brodie - with his scope now locked for great success - added two more for a hat-trick.

The young Wolves kept things honest to the end, and are a side much better than their position on the table would suggest.

For the Stingers, Quinton Threadgate was outstanding on the ball, as was Brodie, while young Connor Ford had some nice touches in the second half and Romy Hewson was busy until copping a knock and might be sporting a mouse on Monday.

Best for the Wolves were Will Levingston who caused Macksville all sorts of grief in the first half, and Jack Payne who was a rock at the back.

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