WOOLGOOLGA gave Nambucca Strikers 3rds a touch up in the first round of the 2018 North Coast Football season, so the pre-match talk was about strengthening the midfield, getting and keeping possession and taking the assent and going forward.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With three key players out, and positional changes, it was going to be a tough ask but Romy Hewson, Tom Robertson and Tom Barbour did just that by interrupting the Woopi midfield, and laying off clearing passes to defenders Blake McNeil, Rick Welsh and Blake Ryan to turn the Sharks around through the hard working Travis and Riley Hayden out wide, and the always improving Buster Faulkner up front.
Buster’s touches to the silky-skilled Nick Hickey ahead of him put Nambucca on goal more often than the fancied Woopi. Alas for all their efforts Nambucca just couldn't find the net, though it seemed just a matter of time.
The bounce of the ball led to a Woopi goal in the final minute of the half, against the run of play, but the half time talk was still positive.
Every player for Nambucca had their game heads on for the second half. Ben Honeybrook was back between the sticks this week, and wasn’t troubled too much.
Nambucca’s engine room took control once more and worked the ball forward through enterprising interplays to Hickey up front and he slotted the equaliser into the bottom corner of goal. The Strikers moved up a gear and Woopi were reeling.
The last 10 minutes saw Nambucca falter and indecision at the back saw Woopi squeak two late goals when Nammbucca clocked off.
The Strikers owned 75 minutes of this game and showed a great work ethic on field.
On Saturday, the Strikers 3rds are at home at 3pm, the ladies at 1pm, and 2nd Div at 5pm.
