promotion to first-division next year.

It was hard fought game in Grafton, with both teams rising to the challenge. Westlawn scored early in the first-half.

The Strikers lifted a gear in the second-half and grabbed a penalty when Luke Olsen was brought down, after passing to Westlawn’s keeper. Strikers scored off the penalty to equalize.

Disaster struck for the Strikers when they gave up an ‘own goal’ and Westlawn got the points. Final score: Westlawn Tigers 2, Nambucca Strikers 1.

Still chasing their first point in the competition, the Under-12s came up against one of the frontrunners in Bellingen.

Lawso Tinmouth was in top form as keeper for the Strikers, and when Heath Blain replaced him in the

second-half he continued in the same vein.

Lochie Paix had a superb game as the Strikers’ sweeper, and was well supported by Tyler Girle and Fred Henstock as twin stoppers.

Tamara Wood and Hayden Shannon defended the wings and kept them very quiet.

The midfield of Alec Gage, Nick Hickey, Jake Nicholas and Ashley Ferguson played like men possessed, charging forward in attack then defending grimly when needed.

TJ Hamilton and Hamish McDonald were brilliant up front, keeping the ‘Bello’ defenders on the back foot.

With just moments left to a well-deserved match point the Strikers fell to a sucker punch, when ‘Bello’ nicked another goal.

The Strikers showed great character and team work, and next week against Woolgoolga they will be unstoppable.

Final score: Bellingen 2, Nambucca Strikers 1.

Home games next weekend August 21 are: Saturday, 9.30am, Under 8s play Dorrigo; Under-15 girls play Urunga for their last game of the season, at 9.30 am; Under-16 girls verse Coffs Tigers at 10.50am and the Under-13s verse Korora Northern Storm at 12.10pm.