They say fairytales aren’t real, but for Rangers captain Paul Thurlow and striker Andrew Potter, a fairytale became a reality as they capped off their Rangers first grade careers with a historic grand final victory over Wallis Lake on Saturday.
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The two went into the contest knowing it would be their final first grade match for their beloved club and when they stared at a 3-0 deficit at half-time, they couldn’t believe what was happening but they knew they couldn’t let their careers end on a humiliating note.
“Everyone was dead in the sheds, quiet as, devastated I think, it was one of the worst halves we have played all season,” Thurlow told the Argus.
“But we knew we have had to do it the hard way all year and come back – we hadn’t comeback from three but we had done it from two – so we backed ourselves and the boys just stepped up.”
Second half goals to Chris Walker, Chad Applegate and the departing Potter sent the match into extra-time.
John Henry’s penalty goal gave the Rangers the lead for the first time in the match before Applegate grabbed a brace to put the nail in Wallis Lake’s coffin.
The uphill battle in the grand final for the Rangers was a trend for the club for the past 12-months.
Macleay Valley started the season deducted three competition points and were forced to play their first two home games on the road.
The club’s committee members and players rallied for each other and overcame the obstacles to finish the regular season in second position.
The player’s character continued to shine in the finals series as they fought their way back from the brink on numerous occasions.
They suffered a 3-2 defeat against Wallis Lake in the grand final qualifier to set up another clash with Port United.
The preliminary final was another tight battle as Rangers and United couldn’t be separated in regulation and the match was sent to a penalty shootout.
The Rangers were one converted penalty shot away from their season coming to an end but goalkeeper John Clancy rose to the occasion to save back-to-back penalties and send the Rangers to the grand final.
However, the Rangers’ troubles continued as Sam Applegate, Kurt Riordan and Steve Morn were suspended while Ben Mitchell was ruled out through injury for the decider.
Then, of course, the unthinkable. Overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a grand final against Wallis Lake, a side which were undefeated this season and had only conceded 12 goals this year.
“We have done it the hard way, the long way and it just makes it all the more sweeter,” Thurlow said.
“There was a lot of boys who didn’t deserve to go out like that, so we took it to another level in the second half.”
Thurlow has captained the Rangers for the last five seasons and been a mainstay in the first grade squad for the past 13 years.
Potter began his playing days with the Rangers as a junior and received the call up into first grade as a defender.
However, coaches quickly recognised his potential and shifted him to striker and he regularly ended the season as the club’s top goal scorer.
Thurlow was emotional after the victory and gave his gratitude to those who supported the club through a rough period.
“I’d like to thank everyone who stuck around after last year, the players who played this year under the loss of points, loss of home games – we had to do it the hard way but we done it aye,” Thurlow said.
“It’s a great way to go out, I still love playing and will probably have a run in reggies when I can and have some fun with the old players but you can’t go out any better way than this. I am so glad that Andrew got to go out this way too and I can share it with them.”
The Rangers side will be vastly different for 2019 with Daniel Saul, Kurt Riordan and others potentially leaving.
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