WALLIS Lake capped off an exceptional season after defeating Port United in their first ever grand final win to become the Football Mid North Coast 2014 premiers.
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The Lakes (part of the Great Lakes United Football Club) won 3-2 at Regional Stadium on Saturday in a match decided in golden goal extra time.
Wallis Lake coach Herb Klemperer said the game was a cliffhanger but a fitting victory for the local side who lost by one point in the grand final last year to Kempsey.
“For me, it was a heart attack game,” he said laughing.
“It was very dangerous; at both ends of the game it was going forwards and backwards all the time.
“But it was absolutely fantastic. Last year we won the championship and lost in the grand final to the Macleay Valley Rangers by one point in the penalty shootout so to be able to turn it all around this year is just fantastic.”
Klemperer praised man of the match Ryan Fokes for his tireless defence on Saturday.
“For me standouts were midfielder Ryan Fokes; he defended fantastically throughout the entire match. Another was left winger Mitch Yarnold; with his speed he was always a danger to the opposition,” he said.
“Also Roan Whiteman’s first goal for Wallis Lake was an absolute cracker and at 25 metres out it was a great shot.
“The whole team played really well I congratulate them all - the effort was 100 per cent.”
The game started at a typically fast pace with Wallis Lake settling in to their game, moving the ball around quickly and looking to attack the Port United goal early on, however it was Port that had the dream start.
After a quick break down the right hand side, a Port United striker saw his shot deflect off the post and a slow reacting Wallis Lake defence were beaten to the ball as a Port player tapped in for a 1-nil lead.
The lead was short lived though as a ball played from Beau Wynter found the feet of Wallis Lake striker Roan Whiteman who struck the ball from outside and watched it sail into the top corner of the goal.
Port United pushed long balls forward targeting their imposing striker while stoppers Beau Wynter and Luke Debrincat stood strong and defended brilliantly against Port’s attack.
On the 30 minute mark, a Port United midfielder was given too much space and hit a long range strike which had just enough swing on it to beat Adam Salt in goal who got his fingertips to the ball but not enough to keep it out.
Again, Wallis Lake came from behind and the reply came within two minutes as Whiteman claimed an assist with a subtle chip over the backline for striker Peter Masterantonio to run on to.
With the goalkeeper advancing quickly, Masterantonio kept his composure to slot the ball past the keeper and locked the scores at 2-2.
The second half was a real battle with chances falling to both sides but without the final finish to put either side ahead.
Midfielders Ryan Folkes, Blake Barnes Riddell, Mitch Yarnold and Matt Dowie worked tirelessly to control the game in the middle of the park and down the flanks.
Wallis Lake looked like the side next to score, however it was a long range effort by a Port United striker destined for goal that forced a brilliant save from Adam Salt.
With a minute left to play in the first half of extra time, a Port United striker latched on to a loose ball but his shot rose high and hit the crossbar, falling to another player who attempted a shot only for it to be saved by Wallis Lake’s Reyne Black.
Second half of extra time resumed and the loyal Wallis Lake supporters were in full song by this stage. Their energy from the sideline lifted the players to another level.
With 110 minutes of football drawing to a close and a penalty shoot-out looming, Wallis Lake attacked the left hand side once more.
Mitch Yarnold played a ball inside to Masterantonio who sent the ball back between the defence for Yarnold to run on to who then sent in a perfect, low cross in to the goal where Ethan Perry was on target, timing his run to precision.
The golden goal was scored, the referee signalled the end of the match and Wallis Lake triumphed over Port United.
After many campaigns in the Premier League competition, two minor premierships and two grand final appearances, a championship was finally part of the club’s history and will remain with all of those involved for a lifetime.