Last week’s thumping away to Northern Storm was consigned to history as the squad moved on and hit the park with a slightly different line-up.

Nambucca gained early control, but some lapses at the back when the defence didn’t adequately deal with a bobbling ball in the box saw the visitors post three scores. The scoreboard was a disappointment given the Strikers bright start to the fixture.

So three-nil it was at the break and the mood was quiet in the halftime huddle.

Much to their credit Nambucca lifted and the chat was positive as they retook the field for the second half.

The first five or 10 minutes of the resumption were a bit slow but the younger legs of the Nambucca Strikers started to work and the hosts again began to assert some control.

The sick Nick Hickey dug deep to put enormous pressure on the defence to hit his first of the season. The midfield started to find their mojo and off the back of that the hard working Blake Ryan slotted a second for the Strikers, and they were coming home strong.

Some excellent midfield work again from Tom Barbour, Isaac Jones and Riley Hayden, saw the Strikers retain possession, and they nailed their third, with a well deserved strike by Ethan Hocking.

But after all that good work, another dead ball scenario saw Nambucca sit back and watch as the ball trickled over the line for Woopi’s fourth.

Nambucca fought all the way to the end, and were unlucky to not steal the game from the Wolves. 

For the Strikers, Kirby Cue filled in from the Under 17s, and he kept Nambucca in the game with some fine saves that were strong and decisive.

This was a great game to watch, and the Strikers brains trust is confident this team will only get better.

On Saturday the Strikers will be away to Coffs Coast Tigers from 1pm at Polwarth Dr.