The Maclean Bobcats Premier League men’s team had their first competitive match of the year in the Anzac Day Cup fixture at home against perennial FFNC heavyweights Richmond Rovers on Sunday afternoon.
In a match cut short by lightning and a thunderstorm the Bobcats will consider themselves unlucky to be on the end of a 3-1 loss. At 1-1 with less than 5 minutes to go, the game was delicately poised before a 30m bullet and late far post tap in saw Rovers take full points under threatening skies.
An undermanned Bobcats entered the field with plenty of experience but when they looked at the bench, they had three players 16 or under and it looked a tall order. The first half ebbed and flowed but Alex Moffitt in goals for Maclean was certainly the busier of the two keepers. Both teams are working into their season, and both had moments of enterprising build up and play but it took a set play to break the deadlock. A well whipped corner from the left allowed a striker to ghost in between defenders and only needed to guide his header goalward for a 1-0 lead for the visiting Rovers. That was on the half hour mark and was a lead Rovers would take to the half time break.
The Bobcats came out on the front foot immediately after half time and had Rovers defending stoutly, before breaking quickly. As the half wore on, the Bobcats pressure became too much and with 15 minutes to go midfielder Adam Penfold showed great vision and poise to head a mistimed clearance from Rovers over a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area to make it 1-1 and have the locals right in the match.
Unbelievably the Bobcats conceded a penalty two minutes later, but Moffitt was equal to the task and kept Maclean in the match with a strong save as thunder and lightning started to fill the sky. Soon after an unstoppable thunderbolt from Rovers left back made it 2-1 followed by a third goal for Rovers before the game was sensibly called off shortly before full time with the electrical storm upon it.
Moffit in goals was outstanding and it was great to see local junior Coby Tabor return and put in a great shift after a long time out recovering from injury. Perhaps the biggest highlight came from the performances of a couple of youngsters on their debuts in the Premier League, Zethan Nicholls and Dakoda O’Dell. Neither looked out of place and both contributed well beyond the expectations of youth players in the top grade. With such a tough first assignment coach Jarrad Doyle saw far more positives than anything else. “As coach I’m happy how pre-season is progressing and the young blokes putting their hands up has the more experienced players excited and keen for the year ahead” Doyle said post match.
Next Sunday the Maclean Bowling Club sponsored Bobcats travel to Ballina in the second round of the preseason Anzac Day Cup. With plenty of positions still available, if you are interested in playing at the highest level available in the Northern Rivers, the Bobcats still have positions available so please contact us at Maclean FC on Facebook for details.
