AFTER losing only their second game of the season last Saturday, 1-nil to the Port Saints, Wallis Lake bounced back by beating their Taree rivals in a close encounter.
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Wallis Lake remains on top of the table while Taree slumped to 7th in the fight for a semi-finals position.
In the reserve grade match, Wallis Lake still remain unbeaten after 16 rounds thanks to a brace from Chris Cheers and another goal to striker Chris Richards. Three under 18’s players were part of the weekend’s side that continued an impressive unbeaten streak.
The 3-0 win means Wallis Lake are in the top spot and three points clear of second placed Port United with only two games of the regular season to play. Midfielder Todd Cheers was awarded man of the match.
First grade coach Herb Klemperer had to shuffle his starting line-up around due to injuries and suspensions, which saw Paul Chipperfield back in the side in defence and with a youthful out-wide attack in Ethan Perry and Harvey Kendall.
Back at home, on the soft and flat surface of Boronia Park, Wallis Lake settled in to the opening quarter with a solid amount of possession and tested the Taree defence early.
The speed out wide with midfielders Kendall and Perry gave Wallis Lake a number of goal scoring opportunities and the opening goal came off a corner to the home side.
Captain Beau Wynter rose above the pack to head the ball on target and after the Wildcats keeper parried the ball back, striker Roan Whiteman was on call to tap the ball in and give the home side a 1-0 lead after 15 minutes.
On the stroke of half time, the boys in green extended their lead with what the coach described as “the goal of the season.”
Kendall broke away down the left hand side and found Whiteman who held the ball up with three defenders on him.
Whiteman managed a perfectly placed ball to striker Peter Masterantonio, who beat the keeper with his shot from the outside of his boot.
On 65 minutes, a soft, back pass from Paul Chipperfield gifted the Wildcats a chance to score.
Goal keeper Adam Salt ran off his line to collect the back pass but the Taree striker beat him to the ball and gave a tap in to his team mate to get them back in the game at 2-1.
Wallis Lake now had more reason to keep the ball and kept the pressure on their opponents. An ankle injury to Ethan Perry saw substitute Louis Ponte come on and within five minutes scored his first goal of the season - a composed long-range shot that left the keeper stranded and all but sealed the victory for Wallis Lake.
Blake Barnes Riddell was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet when his shot in the dying moments hit the crossbar.
Soild defensive work by stoppers Luke Debrincat and Beau Wynter ensured the final score remained at 3-1 and Wynter picked up another man of the match award after his positional switch from midfield.
Wallis Lake will travel to Camden Haven this weekend. Games kick off at 1.15pm and 3pm.
Three points are needed to keep the minor premiership hopes alive. Port United currently sit one point behind in second place on the ladder with only two rounds to play.