KEMPSEY Saints earned a valuable three points last Saturday, with a away win against Port FC in an entertaining semi-final chasing six-pointer.
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Missing regular goalkeeper Jacob Lyttle and captain Shaun Fraser, the visitors emerged from the Tuffins Lane encounter as 4-3 winners.
Evan Clarke scored a brace, with Sam Mahoney and Fraser’s replacement Tristan Smith also getting goals.
Mitch Clarke filled in between the posts.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Port opted for a long-ball game, and opened the scoring on 17 minutes.
Smith responded for Saints five minutes later, heading in a corner.
But the visitors’ jubilation was short-lived, with Port scoring from the resulting kick-off.
Saints continued to play the best football they could, under trying conditions, and Mahoney ensured his side were on level terms at half-time with a superb solo effort – sparing himself the dreaded end-of-season Breck Dash.
With wind advantage in the second half, Clarke got his first just after the hour-mark.
Jordy Ryan set up his team-mate’s second with a great run down the left and a clever cross in front of Clarke, who tapped it in to the delight of the large Saints following.
Port FC added a late consolation goal in the 90th minute, to the dismay of coach Jason Fisher - who will, no doubt, be keen to address his players’ lapses in concentration ahead of tomorrow’s match at home to Saints’ Port Macquarie namesakes.
The victory pulled the Kempsey side six points clear of FC, who now sit in seventh spot on the ladder.
Top Pub Top Player was Clarke, with defender Kyle McCafferty and Ryan getting the other points.
With three matches remaining, each of Saints’ remaining fixtures will be against a team battling for the last three spots in the top five.
In their match against FC, the reserves dominated possession throughout the game, but a lack of cohesion in the final third cost them dearly.
Port scored an early goal against the run of play, after which it was a case of Saints squandering opportunities.
The hosts scored a second late in the second half, which kept their chances for a semi spot alive but killed off Saints’ season.
Saturday marked the debut of another youngster Lachlan Jay, who joins Tom Clarke, Callum Sinclair, Lachlan Davidson, Jacob Mickle, Drew Walsh, Oliver Connors and Jesse Polzin.
It has been one of the highlights of the season with to have so many 15-year-olds making their premier league debuts, and stands the club in good stead for the future.
Top Pub Top Player was the hardworking Walsh, with other points to Matt Dimmock and Tom Clarke.
Saints Ladies had a great 3-0 win over the Camden Haven Redbacks, securing them a top-four finish.
This week is the last round of the women’s competition and Saints take on Wauchope, who are one spot above them on the ladder.
It should be an enthralling match, with Saints capable of matching every team when they play their best game.