Sponsor’s Day on Saturday saw Wallis Lake host Kempsey Saints in the final round of the regular season at Boronia Park.
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The day was an opportunity for Wallis Lake to thank the many local businesses that help contribute to the effort which has seen Wallis Lake take home the minor premiership in both first and reserve grade over season 2016.
With the Saints’ finals prospects on the line, Wallis were looking to take some good form into the finals campaign.
The game began as a battle of attrition, with both sides struggling to dominate on a windy afternoon at Boronia Park.
However, it was the Saints to trouble the scorers first, with an attack down the left hand side seeing a skewed cross become a shot which swirled in the wind and landed in the top corner of the net, 25 minutes in, Wallis down 1-0.
Several chances went begging for Wallis Lake before the break, carrying the score to stay the same at half time.
Half time was a spectacle for the many supporters, with several junior sides, led by Jeff Summers, participating in small sided games, much to the delight of the crowd.
The second half didn’t go to plan for Wallis Lake, after 70 minutes going down 2-0 to a well crafted attacking play which saw a simple pass cut two defenders in half, and the ball slotted into an open net.
Wallis held almost 90pc of possession for the final 20 minutes, and with 10 minutes to go, a cross from Ralph Lauren pinpointed Peter Masterantonio in the box and the game came alive at 2-1.
Relentless attacking did not eventuate for Wallis Lake however, with the minor premiers, taking a bitterly disappointing loss in the final game of the regular season.
The attention of the day however fell on the good spirit of football, with sponsors day and the juniors participating in a football extravaganza, enjoyed by all. Wallis Lake and their committee would like to gratefully thank all their sponsors and supporters for their persistent contributions over the season, without them, we would be nothing. Wallis Lake 1 (Masterantonio 1) - Kempsey Saints 2
Wallis have the week off next week, returning to Boronia Park on the September 3 for a qualifying final, where both grades will look to take the win to ensure their position in the grand final on the 17th.
Reserve grade
Wallis Lake reserves, looked to do the double over Kempsey Saints on Saturday afternoon, to continue their 13 games unbeaten leading into the finals.
Difficult conditions saw a tough first half for both teams.
Several chances fell to the Saints attackers in the first half, forcing goalkeeper Blanch to make equally miraculous saves to keep the scores level.
Three minutes before halftime demoralised Wallis Lake, with a cutting pass landing a Saints attacker one-on-one to take the game to 1-0 at half time.
The game was a story of two halves, with Wallis holding onto a majority of the ball and exhibiting the quality style of play which has seen them dominate the competition over the season.
Man of the match, Jarrod "The Count" Naylor found himself in space outside the box, dribbled past six defenders and hit a snap shot which screamed past an outstretched Kempey keeper to level the scores.
Super sub, Chris Richards put the nails in the coffin for Saints, with a sly slot through the keepers legs finalising the scores at 2-1. Wallis Lake 2 (Naylor 1, Richards 1) - Kempsey Saints 1.