It was an evening of high tensions down on the 3G with both teams knowing that defeat in this game would mean their hopes of qualification for the grand final would be incredibly difficult. The victory, on the other hand, would surely have one foot in the grand final.
The game got off to a decent start with both sides feeling eachother out. Dom Akrigg for Roefield and Alex Palffy for FNF Whites getting notable mentions for being rocks at the back of their respective teams.
The game offered an interesting topic of discussion with both teams fielding a player that had played at a significantly higher level during this last football season.
After a cagey opening quarter of an hour or so, it was Roefield who took the lead with a sublime finish from Alex Green. Or was it? Only he will know if it was meant as a cross or a shot but the spectators were nothing but complimentary over the quality of the strike as his left footed effort looped over the FNF Whites keeper Shaw.
A few minutes later and Roefield were in total control of the game when they went 2-0 up. It was difficult to tell whether the last touch came from Roefield’s Liam Dunleavey or off FNF Whites man, Alex Palffy but nevertheless, Roefield were looking fairly comfortable.
The second half started at a frantic pace with obvious tension still in the air. FNF Whites came out for the second half playing the better football but without really troubling the Roefield keeper.
Roefield only had the one substitute for the evening and it was Sam Rayson who was struggling with a knock and could only manage a little cameo appearance. It was Green again who opened up the defence but Roefield couldn’t turn the ball home from close range after Green’s cross into the box.
The pressure soon told as Miles Storey fired a bullet header in tight angle which possibly got a nick off a defender on the way through. O’Rourke tried his best to keep it out but the ball trickled over the line to make it 2-1 to Roefield.
The next ten minutes saw FNF Whites pile the pressure on but without really troubling the goal. Crosses into the box were gathered up by O’Rourke and shots from distance weren’t troubling the goal enough.
On 47 minutes, FNF Whites finally ran out of steam and Liam Dunleavey grabbed his second goal of the game and sealed the win for Roefield.
Just before the full time whistle, FNF Whites’ Terry Boyle had his best chance of the evening but couldn’t keep his header on target. It may have lead to a grandstand finale but Roefield held out for a 3-1 victory, showing why they were such a force to be reckoned with last year.
FNF Whites are next in action on the final day where they face Rimington which could potentially be a playoff for who gets into the grand final. We next see Roefield on July 4 where they face FNF Blacks. A win in that game guarantees them a place in the grand final.
