The Maclean Bowling Club Bobcats travelled to Mullumbimby to take on the Valleys in the FFNC Premier League and came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win to take their unbeaten run to four games. The late season revival has shown what the Maclean side is capable of, but it appears to little too late for their semi-final aspirations with only two games left to play.

Fine weather greeted the travelling Bobcats and both sides revelled in the conditions, playing some free-flowing football. Chances were aplenty at both ends of the park before Valleys took the lead fortuitously mid-way through the half when a deflected shot lobbed into the back of the Bobcat net to get the home fans out of their seats. That seemed to motivate the Bobcats and whilst they pressed hard for a goal the scores remained 1-0 at the half time break.

The game ebbed and flowed early in the second half before disaster struck with captain Jarrod Doyle going down with a season ending heal injury shortly after the in-form Jarret Power-Cassen was also replaced. A midfield reshuffle followed and soon after the Bobcats were back on level terms. A pinpoint Zane Neilson corner was met with the thumping header from good mate Ryan Jackson to get the scores back to 1-1 with 20 minutes to go. Five minutes later it was Jacksons turn to be provider when he made a penetrating run into the box before cutting the ball back to striker Fraser Marsh to bury what turned out to be the winning goal that now had the travelling fans on their feet.

For the Bobcats the Power-Cassen brothers were once again hard to contain, Pat Delaney provided the industry in midfield, but it was all action Jackson who was the inspiration behind the win.

In the Championship fixture the Bobcats were desperately unlucky to go down 1-0 after a well taken goal from the Valleys striker. Things could have been so different if Kev Crofton’s header was not miraculously saved by the Valleys keeper or if Harvey McEwen’s shot didn’t hit the bar, but it was another case of so near yet so far for the Championship outfit.

Next Saturday the Bobcats host Richmond Rovers in the penultimate game of the season at Barry Watts Oval, Maclean.