An early attacking raid from the Taree Wildcats was enough to hand the Macleay Valley Rangers their first loss of the season.
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The Wildcats created space down the right edge straight from kick off and they caught the Rangers napping.
Last season’s golden boot winner Jackson Witt was on the end of a through ball and he faked a pass to an open teammate to hold off Rangers’ defender Blake Pietsch before firing a powerful shot at goal.
Goalkeeper Shaun Glover saved the first effort but the ball carried to a Wildcats striker who made no mistake in putting the ball in the back of the net.
Wildcats nearly doubled their lead moments later with Witt’s shot at goal pushed over the bar by Glover.
Taree continued to apply the pressure on the competition leaders but the momentum swung when Witt was stretched from the field after twisting his ankle while chasing the ball.
With their best attacking weapon missing, the Wildcats ”parked the bus” to defend for the final 75-minutes of the match.
“They made some interchanges after Jackson went off and they parked the bus with all of their players defending behind the ball,” Rangers’ first grade coach Dean Riordan said.
“We controlled the possession and they barely got out of their half after that.”
Riordan credits Taree’s defence for holding his side, who had scored 30 goals in its previous nine matches, scoreless.
However, he said there were three golden chances missed by his side.
The first came to Andrew Potter just before half-time.
The striker dribbled the ball around the Wildcat’s keeper who had came outside of his 18-yard box but Potter was unable to put the ball into the open net due to his restricted angle.
The second fell to Jeremy Masters who put the ball over the crossbar from the six-yard box and the final chance was missed by captain Paul Thurlow.
The fullback had pushed forward and fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box which the keeper carried onto his cross bar.
The ricochet fell to Thurlow but he was unable to find the target with his second effort.
“We didn't play badly at all and we never stopped attacking, it just wasn’t our day,” Riordan said.
“The players never dropped their heads and I was over the moon with their attitude.”
Rangers remain on the top of the table despite the loss, with second placed Port Saints dropping competition points in a draw with the Camden Haven Redbacks.
Rangers will be looking to return to winning ways against Wallis Lakes on Saturday.
The round eight meeting was rescheduled after rain washed out their game earlier this season.
Wallis Lakes are sitting in equal second position on the ladder and are the defending champions from last season.
Riordan is hopeful a few injured players will make their return on Saturday.