THE final round of the Mid North Coast Premier League regular season was played on Saturday with minor premiers Wallis Lake defeating Port United 3-2 at Boronia Park.
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In a game where results didn’t matter, both sides put on a gutsy performance in the wet conditions.
Wholesale changes had to be made to the starting line-ups for both grades as injuries and players away saw a depleted squad take the field for Wallis Lake.
The reserve grade sides were equal on first place with Wallis Lake needing the win to secure the minor premiership.
The rain-soaked pitch made it difficult to play and possession swung both ways as both sides found it hard to play quality football.
Port United scored goals either side of half time and held off the Wallis Lake attack until the end winning the match 2-0.
Coach Tony Russ was disappointed with the loss considering the team had been unbeaten for 16 of the 18 rounds this season.
The reserves now face the Macleay Valley Rangers in the qualifying semi-final in Port Macquarie on Saturday.
In first grade, coach Herb Klemperer had six regular starters missing. Beau Wynter, Adam Salt, Mitch Yarnold and Matt Dowie were all omitted from the side that beat Camden Haven the previous week.
Goalkeeper Tynan Leahy, Paul Chipperfield, Sam Ravell and Matt Cheers all backed up from the reserve grade match.
The home side started well and put pressure on their opponents early. The Port United side were handling the pressure though, constantly attacking the right hand side and on 20 minutes a cross from out wide caught out goal keeper Leahy, who put the ball in to his own net while trying to tip it over the crossbar.
Wallis Lake responded within ten minutes after a defence-splitting pass from midfielder Ryan Folkes saw striker Peter Masterantonio run on to the ball and be fouled inside the penalty box, giving the referee no doubt in awarding a spot kick.
Striker Roan Whiteman stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a delicate finish in to the bottom corner of the goal.
Things got worse for the home side on the stroke of half time as midfielders Louis Ponte and Ethan Perry both succumbed to injury and couldn’t play on.
Josh Walpole and Harvey Kendall were the
replacements, backing up after a full game in reserve grade.
Port United took full
advantage of a Wallis Lake backline understandably tiring early and scored after a great strike from out wide.
The home side never looked beaten though and continued to maintain possession. Wallis Lake surged forward with the hard working central midfield of Blake Barnes Riddell and Ryan Folkes.
On the 70 minute mark, Wallis Lake were level again thanks to the forward combination of Whiteman and Masterantonio.
A perfectly timed pass from Whiteman behind the defence saw Masterantonio beat the advancing goal keeper and slot home the equaliser.
To the excitement of the home crowd, a corner taken by Walpole fooled everybody and curved around the near post, falling at the goal keeper’s feet and crossing the line before the ball could be cleared, giving Wallis Lake the lead with 15 minutes to play.
The home sides’ courage and attitude in the final stages of the match allowed them to hold out Port United from scoring and claim a moral boosting 3-2 win to further cement their position in top spot on the ladder.
Wallis Lake have earned a weekend off after finishing seven points clear of second placed Port United and will prepare for their semi-final to be played at Boronia Park on Saturday September 6.