COASTAL Premier League (CPL) newbies Bellingen FC kicked off their preseason campaign with an entertaining 2-1 loss against CPL rivals Coffs Coast Tigers last Saturday at Connell Park, Bellingen.

Bellingen coach Henry Gale saw plenty of positives from the new CPL team and plenty of things to work on as he left the ground chanting “We can’t wait to show the coastal league what our home town has to bring to the league!”.

The match almost didn’t take place due to another downpour the night before which waterlogged the Tigers home ground at Polwarth Drive where the match was originally scheduled.

After a few frantic phone calls on Saturday morning the match was rescheduled to Connell Park in Bellingen.

“We had originally planned the trial game for the weekend before, but it got washed out.

“Waking up to more rain I was hoping the same wasn’t going to happen again, Luke Stowe called and said that their grounds were swimming in water, so we hustled to get us playing in Bello because we needed some match fitness badly.

“So cones lined the ground’s perimeters, referees were rerouted to the Shire and we had the match that our boys were eagerly wanting,” said Henry.

The eager Bellingen Bats hit the ground running and stunned the Tigers when they went ahead after 20 minutes but the Tigers clawed their way back to win 2-1.

“Although we had over twelve players unavailable for Saturday we just had enough to field a reserve side, with a couple having to play two games.

“Our patched together first team, who had never shared a pitch together thus far, were ready for the challenge that was a young Coffs team that had spent many seasons honing their plays together.

“We started off pretty shaky, and slowly gained some control, Lee in goals made some good close saves to keep us at 0-0 then after 20 minutes Fabrice piped up at the top of the area to acrobatically bicycle in an effort into the far side netting for Bellingen’s first of the season and his first in black and white.

“Not too long after we gave away a penalty in what was a very silly challenge that didn’t need to be made for 1-1.

“The game was evenly matched but it was clear that our fitness wasn’t anywhere near our opponents or where it needed to be, another mistake from a goal kick gifted them another goal and ended 2-1.

“I was happy with how they played considering we had no subs and lots away, big shout outs to Jack Rann and Rory Goddard who played amazing roles on the day.

“The reserves ended up going down 4-2 but showed character after conceding very early in the piece.

“Training conditioning doesn’t even come close to the fitness needed in a game, and was evident and once again appreciated by all.

“We are getting up to 32 players at training, which means competition for those eleven spots is running hot.

“The lads are really getting behind the idea that we are in this region’s premier competition, and can’t wait to show the coastal league what our home town has to bring to the league,” said Henry.

 

By David WIGLEY