The fixture saw the boys in fluro play on the newly renovated Water Street field and the surface was in perfect playing condition. 

The new drainage sees the field dry and playable one or two hours even after a big downpour. This is a huge bonus to the best pitch in the competition in what has been a wet start to the premier league season.

The day saw the unveiling of the new Bruce Ballard scoreboard and Wallis Lake reserve grade put it straight to use, knocking seven in the back of the Wildcats’ net.

Reserve grade started slick and fast with some beautiful short, sharp football played with Ethan Garrard and Griffin Prestwidge controlling the central midfield. 

The two older heads in the middle of the park really helped settle the young Wallis Lake reserve grade outfit. 

Garrard opened the scoring early with a classy finish and this seemed to spark the attack as within the next 10 minutes the score would quickly change to 3-0 with goals to in-form striker Blake Clarke and a low cut ball which Brendon Bond made no mistake finishing. 

Joey was tireless in defence and his short passing game was on point. Another goal to Blake Clarke and a brilliant individual effort from Boaz Flower saw Wallis Lake head to the break with a 5-0 lead. 

Wallis Lake dominated again from the whistle and starved Taree of the ball. Jacob Skains impressed again, earning him the players’ player points. 

Taree managed to keep the second half score to 2-0 with some good one-touch football seeing Mitch Clarke put his name on the score sheet. 

Coach Russ was more than pleased with the 7-0 score line and goalkeeper Dean Bensch was happy to see another clean sheet.

Wallis Lakes’ first grade saw some minor changes in the line up with striker Roan Whitman and youngster Bayden Schumann both ruled out through injury. 

This saw Mansour and Tom Richardson starting up front. They were a constant threat for the Taree defence with any wayward pass or loose ball across the back line pounced upon. 

Wallis looked like the first to score with constant peppering of Taree’s goal from Ethan Perry and Sam Roche. 

The opening goal came off a well-placed corner kick that was controlled by captain Beau Wynter and flicked a cheeky back heel to left back Reyne Black, who made no mistake in thumping it in the back of the net. 

The score line remained 1-0 for the remainder of the half. 

Things threatened to boil over with some heavy tackles and a little pushing and shoving. Taree seemed to finish the half off on top. 

Despite Wallis Lake slackening off for 15 minutes or so there was no real serious threat for Wallis Lake goal keeper Tynan Leahy, who seemed to catch anything that came into his box. 

Wallis Lake started the second half on top again and held the ball for long periods, really stretching the Taree defence. 

The left side of Black, Roche and Dowie had defenders scrambling and it seemed that that was where Wallis Lake was going to score next. 

But a free kick on the top of the box saw Ethan Perry drive it low and hard, beating Taree’s goalkeeper. 

Captain Wynter kept the boys pushing for the full 90 minutes and they were rewarded with 10 minutes to go with a goal that Tom Richardson parried by the keeper and an agile Boaz Flower tapped in the net, putting the fluro ahead by three.

Reyne Black picked up the players’ player points and is becoming a consistant contender each week. Coach Russ was happy with the effort from the whole squad and has his eyes on the top spot coming into the second round. 

Wallis Lake is at Boronia Park again next weekend with the grand final rematch against Port United. 

The match will be the last for the season for midfielder Ethan Perry who is off to play college football in America.