Port FC player Matt Edwards dodging a tackle
Macleay Valley Rangers beat Port FC 1-0
THE Elders Insurance Port Macquarie FC suffered a miserable day on Saturday at the hands of the Macleay Valley Rangers, losing in both grades.
The club’s first grade side went down 3-0 after reserves lost 1-0.
On Saturday though, the game and Rangers weren’t as obliging.
Port FC’s reserve started the day off in promising fashion in a tightly-contested match, but eventually went down 1-0.
In first grade, the contest was even tougher.
The early exchanges were promising from FC but it was the Rangers who struck first after a well struck strike glanced off defender Scott Spokes only to wrong foot Terrance Stafford in the FC goals.
Despite both sides trading blows throughout the first half, the Rangers escaped to the break with the one goal cushion.
The second half was a physical encounter and despite FC playing well in patches, the game well and truly belonged to the Rangers.
The Rangers’ pressure and persistence in the midfield paid off and two lapses in defence from FC lead to goals.
The Rangers’ first goal of the second half came via a failed FC clearance and some nifty footwork from Andrew Potter to round the defender and slot the ball home from a narrow angle.
Potter also claimed the Rangers’ third via a deft header which lobbed Stafford from close range.
Despite the scoreline FC battled right to the end.
The defensive trio of Coelho, Jack Wilson and Scott Spokes picked up the FC match points (three, two and one respectively) due to their work rate and
commitment.
Midfielders Luke Buckley and Sevi Bradley’s efforts were enormous but unfortunately the hard work didn’t pay off on this occasion.
The side now has a difficult trip tonight to Old Bar to play the Barbarians.
With Paddy Coelho gone, Dane Seymour still injured, Bradley a 50 per cent chance of playing and a number of reserve grade players away on school excursions and committed to HSC trials it is going to be a big ask to come away with all six points on offer.
