Danger man: Port FC striker Matt Edwards put his name of the scoreboard against Wallis Lakes on Saturday.
SATURDAY’S Football Mid-North Coast Premier League fixture saw the Elders Insurance Port FC side come from behind to register a 2-all draw with the visiting Wallis Lakes.
The game didn’t start off that well for the home side.
Inside the first 15 minutes Scott Spokes was adjudged to have brought down a Lakes player from behind and, being inside the 18-yard box, a penalty was duly awarded.
Port FC keeper Terrance Stafford, however, chose the right way and managed to parry the ball away to safety and maintain the 0-all scoreline.
Shortly after and some lovely interchange play swung the momentum Port FC’s way.
Dilly Prestergard passed the ball to first grade debutant Dane Seymour who calmly controlled the waist-high ball with his first touch and stroked it in behind the defence for striker Matt Edwards to run onto.
Edwards nudged the ball forward and on the volley dispatched the ball into the back of the Lakes’ net for a great team goal and a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately though, five minutes later, a long range shot from Lakes caught Stafford out.
Stafford’s parry tipped the cross bar and rather than coming down it bounced straight out into the onrushing Lakes striker’s lap.
Scores were now level at 1-all.
Port FC midfielder Luke Buckley almost snatched the lead shortly before the break but was denied by a brilliant save from the Lakes’ keeper.
The second half saw both teams trade blows but off-sides and poor finishes kept the scoreline at 1-all until a static Jordan Morris was adjudged to have brought a Lakes player down just inside the penalty area.
This time the Lakes striker sent Stafford the wrong way and managed to find the side netting and a narrow 2-1 advantage.
Port FC kicked up a gear after this goal and Lakes seemed to sit back in an effort to defend the lead.
Just when it seemed that the visitors were going to hold the locals off, Morris decided he was going to try and surge through the middle of the opposition defence.
Morris very nearly got through, too, beating four or more players before being fouled just outside the penalty area right in front of goals.
Lakes set up a five-man wall and had every player behind the ball.
Unfortunately though, all the bodies inside the penalty area made it difficult for the goal keeper to see the ball.
Port FC’s very own dead ball specialist Brad Spokes curled it around the wall and through a narrow gap to level it up at 2-all.
After the goal both sides had chances to win the game.
Lakes had one disallowed for off-side before Port FC midfielder Brandon Pincham ghosted in behind the Lakes defence to the by-line only to see his knee high cross avoid everyone, including the unmarked Prestergard on the back post.
Scott Spokes was awarded the man of the match in his return from injury.
