The Maclean Bobcats Men’s Premier League and Championship teams travelled to Lismore to take on Thistles in their final games of the FFNC 2022 season.
Whilst neither club were in semi final contention there was still much to play for as Maclean had the opportunity to jump Thistles on the Championship League ladder with a win, and conversely Thistles had the opportunity to jump the Bobcats in the Premier League if they won.
With mass player unavailability in the Premier League the Bobcats had a number of players backing for two games so they needed a mammoth effort to get a result. An uneventful first half came and went and both teams remained scoreless at the break. The second half was a different story, and the game came to life when Thistles scored after a well-timed run and finish at the far post gave them a 1-0 lead and temporarily lifted them above the visiting Maclean outfit on the ladder. The desire to maintain their position on the ladder saw the Bobcats lift for one final effort. Fittingly it was the versatile Braidy Power-Cassen who brought the Bobcats level finishing a one-on-one goal to cap arguably his best season for the Bobcats. The 1-1 draw ensured that the Bobcats maintained their mid table position above Thistles which was a good way to finish the season.
In the Championship League fixture, the Bobcats were not so fortunate going down 4-1 to Thistles in a match that still had some highlights for the Maclean club. Veteran club stalwart Kevin Crofton, as old as time itself, wound back the clock when he scored a ‘worldie’ from 25m out with his less preferred left foot, was an obvious bright moment. Also, Lachlan Gauci acquitted himself admirably on his Championship debut that included heading clear a goal bound shot off the line to keep his team in the match mid-way through the second half.
With the Men’s Premier League squad season now over the Bobcats will shift focus to the senior teams that will enjoy semi final football this year. After a tearaway start to the year the Women’s Premier team have literally limped into the semi-finals after the back end of the season was riddled with injuries. They know that on their day they are the team to beat so they fear no-one and are hopeful of giving the Premiership a real shake. Likewise, the Bobcats 3rd Div men’s team are sitting comfortably in second place on the ladder and look destined for semi final football as well in the North Coast Football competition.
Jamie Vardy