Iona FC d Nambucca Strikers
Iona FC have made a successful Australia Cup debut defeating the Nambucca Strikers 2-0 in their preliminary round match at the Coffs Football Centre.
Not only were Iona Sports Club making their Australia Cup debut, the Port Macquarie based club was also playing its first men’s match after previously competing in junior competitions.
The Port Macquarie club started to take control in the midfield against the Nambucca Strikers, and their weight of possession paid off when a long-range chip of the Strikers keeper opened the scoring in the 25th minute.
The Nambucca Strikers nearly found an equaliser late in the first half, as Iona FC headed into the half-time break holding a 1-0 lead.
Iona FC continued to have the wealth of possession and found a second goal early in the second half.
Iona FC continued to create numerous chances through its midfield dominance, although Nambucca would go down swinging as they created a golden opportunity to nearly score their first goal of the match, which would have led to a grand stand finish.
Ultimately it would be Iona FC who would advance to the next round as 2-0 victors.
Nambucca Strikers Club president Kiely Chase said the club are now looking forwards to hosting the Nambucca Cup

“We have our annual challenge cup this month on 18,19,20 March and the Executive Committee met last week and decided that unless there is a major flood warning we are going ahead with teams coming from as north as Byron Bay and as south as Sydney to compete in 35s open men and open women.
“Two years in a row we have been unable to hold the tournament because of covid and flooding so we are jumping at the bit to have it this year and the players are so keen to play,” said Kiely.

Coffs Coast Tigers d 10-0 Taree Wildcats
Coffs Coast Tigers have started their Australia Cup campaign in dominant fashion with a 10-0 victory against the Taree Wildcats in their preliminary round match at the Coffs Football Centre.
The Tigers dominated from the first blow of the whistle with all the early running and duly capitalised with a goal in the 12th minute.
This would be the first of many goals of the afternoon for a terrific Tigers team who finished second on the ladder in last season’s Coastal Premier League competition.
It was one-way traffic for most of the first half as the Tigers orange crush tore the Wildcats defence to shreds, with the Wildcats stuck in their own half as the goals continued to flow.
A sensational six goals in the space of half an hour including two on the stroke of half-time saw the Tigers kill the Australia Cup match as a competitive contest, as they took an unassailable 7-0 lead into the main break.
The intensity continued in the second half as two quick goals saw the lead extended to 9-0.
To their credit, the Wildcats defence improved as the match wore on, holding out the Tigers for much of the second half before Coffs Coast made it a perfect ten performance with their tenth goal just before full-time.