The Tigers football club travelled to Tuffins Lane in Port Macquarie on Saturday to take on the competition’s big improvers Port FC.
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FC has proved a tough opponent this season, with strong wins over Port United and Taree Wildcats.
From the outset though the Tigers set about attacking the FC defence, and chances on goal were had inside the first five minutes.
A goal seemed only a matter of time, especially after the send off of key FC player Aaron Grose for abusive language directed at the referee after little more than 20 minutes.
However, with each missed opportunity the Tigers became increasingly edgy in front of goal, and this allowed Port FC’s 10 men to remain in the contest, especially with their goal keeper performing heroically between the sticks.
The first half ended with the Tigers firmly in control of the match, but with the scorers untroubled. Port FC started with the ball in the second half and fired it long in order to spark a rare foray into the Tigers defensive third.
Instead of simply clearing their lines under pressure though, the Tigers attempted to play out from the back, and hit a wayward pass into the centre of the pitch.
This was seized upon by an FC midfielder, who unleashed a shot that seemed destined for the waiting arms of James McBride in the Tigers goal, until it hit the shoulder of an onrushing Tigers’ defender.
The ball took a massive deflection upwards, and looped over McBride’s head, dropping into the goal to put the home side ahead, definitely against the run of play.
The Tigers were urged to stay focussed, and to stick to the style of play that had seen them create so many chances up to that point.
That’s exactly what they did, and with 25 minutes to go drew level with a great volleyed finish from Pete Goonan on the end of a corner.
The equaliser saw both teams lift, and FC could have taken the lead again but for a superb save by McBride, diving high to his right to keep out a magnificent dead ball effort with 15 minutes remaining.
It was shortly after that though when the Tigers breached the home side’s defence yet again, Camilleri finishing the rebound from his own shot in some style to put the Tigers in front.
The game looked safe when a blistering effort from Matt Whight had the keeper beaten, but the ball hit the inside of the upright and inexplicably bounced across the face of goal and away to safety.
There were some anxious moments late in the match as a series of long range free kicks rained down on the Tigers’ defence, but Port FC were unable to take advantage of them, the final score being Port FC 1 TFFC Tigers 2.
The last play of the match saw Tigers’ man of the match Pete Goonan in a sickening head clash with a Port opponent, with both players ending up in the emergency ward requiring stitches.
“Again, I have to be happy with how we played” Tigers coach Jonathon Newman said.
“But it would have been nice to put the game away early, as we had the opportunity to do, to save me a few more grey hairs.”
Mark Mallia played very well, with Jake Camilleri and Jaidyn Kianou also standing out.
The win saw the Tigers maintain their third place on the table, and with second placed Wallis Lake beating top of the table Camden Haven, only two points separates the Tigers from the top of the league.
Next Saturday the Tigers are at home to Port United, who will be desperate to correct some poor early season results. The Tigers will welcome back Mitch Minors and Codey Chick, and hope that Jack Yeates overcomes a foot injury as well.
Reserve grade report:
The Tigers enjoyed a comprehensive 7-2 victory over Port FC on Saturday, with Daniel Barry netting four of those himself to firmly plant himself on top of the scorers list this season.
The game started as a tight tussle, but once the Tigers gained the ascendancy there was only ever going to be one winner.
Some excellent performances were seen right across the park for the visitors, with Barry’s finishing particularly impressive.
The win moves the Tigers reserves to third on that table as well, marking a successful first third of the season.
Other standouts were Rod Yanez, Tom Riley and Adam Christensen.