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All the Tigers could do for their part in the matter was to beat Old Bar, a traditionally difficult rival for the visitors, and who had shown some recent good form in thumping Wallis Lake and holding minor premiers the Redbacks to a draw in the previous two matches.

The game started late after Paul Elliott broke his arm late in the reserve grade clash and the ambulance had to be called. From the outset the Tigers were the brighter, with good attacking combinations in the wide areas involving Jake Camilleri and Mitch Minors.

With Pete Goonan and first time starter Troy Chipperfield controlling things well at the back, the weight of possession eventually told as a quick interchange of passes saw Jack Yeates through, and he squared the ball for Jake Camilleri who cut back inside his marker then arrowed a powerful left foot shot back past the keeper to put the Tigers in front.

A few more chances came, and went, for the Tigers as Old Bar dug in desperately, and the home side fashioned a few chances for themselves later in the half. Injury took its toll for the second time of the day as Chipperfield rolled his ankle in a rut on the pitch and had to be substituted. Whilst the Tigers were preparing a substitute Old Bar exacted full toll from a corner in the final seconds of the half, with a goal mouth scramble being tucked away to level the scores.

Rather than losing intensity following the equaliser the Tigers returned after the break full of fire, this time with Brock Gutherson on for Chipperfield. After little more than 10 minutes in the visitors were in front after some fine work by Minors, Kianou and Scarff saw Camilleri in some space at the top corner of the box, and his deflected shot caught the keeper out of position, looping into the back of the net.

The home side almost drew level a couple of times shortly after that, with the woodwork proving friendly to the Tigers on more than one occasion. As the game went on though the Tigers began to return more and more to the fast short passing game that has served them well this season, and a wonderful exchange of passes from the back, through the middle, out wide and then back across the face of goal saw Minors finish superbly low and hard, leaving the Old Bar keeper no chance and bringing the score to 3-1 for the Tigers.

This visibly deflated the Barbarians, and the Tigers began to play with a lot of freedom, with Goonan rampaging forward at times and the Tigers midfield dominating the play.

Mark Mallia drilled home a fourth for the Tigers after composing himself well, and despite several other late chances thats how the match finished, Old Bar Barbarians 1 TFFC Tigers 4, with Jake Camilleri earning the players player award. After singing the victory song the Tigers learned that wins to Port United and Kempsey Saints had sealed their fate, missing out on semi finals football on their first year back in Premier League by a solitary point.

“I was very proud of how the team played today” coach Jonathon Newman said. 

“Ultimately we have to be happy with how we’ve played this season.”