The Tuncurry-Forster Tigers FC were in a must win situation on the weekend in both grades, with first grade, sitting in seventh position on the table, facing the sixth placed Kempsey Saints and the third placed reserve grade playing the top of the table.
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First grade: The Tigers started very well, with lots of energy and some great attacking play, centrally and down the flanks.
The enthusiasm for the contest saw the home side take the lead quite early on, inside 10 minutes with Matt Whight turning sharply at the top of the penalty area and driving the ball past MJ Sultana in the Saints’ goal.
Several other chances for the Tigers went begging, with Blair Smith, Codey Chick and Whight all missing the target or firing straight at the keeper, and it wasn’t until the 25th minute that Whight doubled the Tigers’ lead after some excellent lead up work from Callum Smith.
Seemingly comfortably in front the Tigers relaxed a little too much, and this was all the invitation the visitors needed to gain a foothold in the match and they began to dominate proceedings for the rest of the first interval.
Curtis Jones was once again excellent in goals for the Tigers, but even he was not able to keep out Dan Baker’s strike from the top of the penalty area on the stroke of half time.
The goal certainly lifted the Saints and they dominated the opening passages of play in the second half, with slick ball movement and patience in possession making it difficult for the Tigers to stay in control of the match.
When the equaliser came with 20 minutes to go it was no surprise, although the Tigers’ defence had four opportunities to clear their lines before the ball fell to a Saints player who gleefully tucked away the leveller.
With the visitors in the ascendancy it looked like the home side would struggle to hold on for a point, but the Tigers then lifted their intensity both behind and in front of the ball and began to regain some of their first half form.
Chances started coming again, with both Smith and Whight having good opportunities to put the Tigers in front again, but it was left to Codey Chick to head home Mitch Minors’ corner and re-establish the home side’s lead.
For the last 10 minutes of the match it was all hands to the pump for the Tigers as the Saints searched desperately for parity again.
But the home side defended with an intensity that would see them run out winners 3-2 on the day.
Curtis Jones and Codey Chick split the player’s player award, with Blair Smith earning a mention as well.
The win saw the Tigers leap frog the Saints on the table, and give a bit of a confidence boost before another must-win match next weekend at Tuncurry against last year’s grand finalists. Camden Haven Redbacks.
Reserve grade: The Tigers reserves have been on a hot streak for many weeks now, but it came crashing to an end on Saturday with a comprehensive beating at the hands of a red-hot-on-the-day Saints reserves who look to be deserving table toppers at this stage.
The Tigers started extremely well though with a superb individual strike from Daniel Barry who is scoring for fun in reserves at the moment, and it looked like usual service for the Tigers.
However, a defensive error allowed a simple equaliser for the Saints, and from then on they took the match by the scruff of the neck, adding four more before Barry scored another fantastic goal to make the final score TFFC reserves two Kempsey Saints reserves five.
The result hasn’t affected either team’s standings on the table, but severely dents the Tigers hopes of a reserve grade minor premiership.
Daniel Barry was a deserving player’s player.