2nd October 2008
Semi Final Draw - Time Change

Below is the Semi Final Draw for North Coast Football teams:
- to be played Sun 12th October 2008

Senior Women: Ourimbah United V Coffs City United
- Valentine 2 KO: 11.00am

Time Change: Senior Men
Due to the fact that the Coffs City United bus driver has insisted that he return to Coffs Harbour in daylight, due to the local conditions existing at this time of the year, it has been necessary to switch the times for the semi finals of the mens all age on Sunday 12th October 2008. This change has been made for issues of safety.

Senior Men: Budgewoi V Coffs City United
- Valentine 1 KO: now 11.00am

Ground Location details...
Valentine Sports Park
235-257 Meurants Lane
GLENWOOD 2768

29th September 2008
Round 3 Results/Reports

Below are the Round 3 results for North Coast Football teams:
- played Sun 28th September 2008

Senior Men: Coffs City United 2 Normanhurst Eagles 1
- The Den (Coffs Hbr Showground): KO 11.30am

Senior Women: CANCELLED
Coffs City United 3 Uni of Wollongong 0
(Uni of Wollongong forfeited)
- The Den (Coffs Hbr Showground): KO 9.30am

Match Report: Senior Men: Coffs City United 2 Normanhurst Eagles 1
MBF Champion of Champions Quarter Final

Normanhurst Eagles fresh from an 11 goal victory the previous week were now ready to play the unknown quantity, Coffs City United who were as near to full strength as they could be although still missing Nic Lambert and Peter Bayndrian from this stage of last year's competition. Nevertheless the local side was quietly confident but football is a funny game...

A typical Coffs Harbour summer day with temperatures approaching 30C and a hard green pitch would surely test both sides in this quarter final contest.

Coffs Lions were straight on the attack from the kick-off with the resultant corner kick causing little problem to the Normanhurst defenders who had a definite height advantage over their opponents. Sam MacKay used his pace out wide to beat his defender but once again the high cross was effectively dealt with by the Normanhurst defence and their answering attack quickly launched.

Following some sloppy defence by Todd Barden, Adam Goldrick fired in a powerful cross from the left hand side that Josh Wiseman could only parry into the path of a Normanhurst striker for the Sydneysiders to take a 1-0 lead. This strike certainly quietened the local crowd which had grown considerably in size since kick-off probably because of the enormous publicity attached to this game by local officials and media.

Ben MacKay led the fight back with an immediate reply but Normanhurst's A. Frost was up to the challenge and saved efficiently. Play was quickly switching from end to end with some speed and anyone suffering the effects of the conditions was easily found out. Will Bailey and Brent Turner were forced into several crunch tackles for the Lions as Normanhurst threatened to take complete control of the game in the latter stage of the half. Not to be completely overshadowed, Anthony Wiseman finished off a smart interchange with Ben MacKay only to shoot wide of the Normanhurst goal from 18 metres.

Tyson Barry followed up a few moments later when he found some space inside the penalty area but his goal bound shot was blocked by a desperate Normanhurst defender. Then Josh Wiseman was forced to save a rocket from D. Ochert and then watched in relief as the follow-up shot was blasted high over the bar from a good scoring position. The half ended with Will Bailey again called into action to save a Normanhurst raid down the right side and ensure the deficit remained at the odd goal.

Whatever Mike Smith imparted to his players in The Lions' shed at half time seemed to do the trick as the home side came out with more purpose and width to their play. Daniel Ivers replaced Rory Dollard, Miro Maco was introduced into a game that suited his style of play and Anthony Wiseman was pushed wide in an effort to release him from the high defensive load he took in the first period. Ben MacKay reversed the attention he had been attracting from the Normanhurst defence for most of the game but his tackle brought him a yellow card and a long break in play while his defender was repaired for the next encounter.

Within a few minutes Wiseman and then Nathan Silvy squandered excellent opportunities to put The Lion's on equal terms with Normanhurst but one felt a score was imminent and the large crowd was now more expectant and anxious than at any other time in the game. Ben MacKay brilliantly scythed his was through a back peddling Normanhurst defence only to see the big frame of A. Frost in the Normanhurst goal deny him yet again.

From the ensuing corner kick a Normanhurst defender handled the ball in the penalty box and just as quickly Nathan Silvy had put The Lions back on equal terms with Normanhurst; 1-1.

With the momentum clearly going with the home side and refusing to buckle to any of the Normanhurst challenges, MacKay this time combined with Anthony Wiseman who deftly beat the advancing keeper to give The Lions a 2-1 advantage. The game had changed within 5 minutes and it was Normanhurst who had to find answers or face the long trek back to Sydney wondering what was different from this game to the last game.

Coach Mike Smith made some personnel changes giving game time to Kurt Daley and re-introducing Sam MacKay and Rory Dollard to continue to probe at Normanhurst and to challenge for any loose ball and prevent any Normanhurst reply. After several near chances at both ends and a 5 minute period of injury time, Coffs Lions had once again done themselves and their supporters proud and advanced to the semi finals of the NSW MBF Champion of Champions tournament.

Local pundits agreed that Joshua Wiseman was instrumental in this victory with several goal denying saves, Tyson Barry was tireless in his central mid-field role and Will Bailey often threatened in attack and cleared up in defence to give a high quality all round performance. On such a hot day against a hard tacking and well organised opponent this was an excellent team effort and one which is sure to again raise eye-brows further south!

- Report by Paul Israel, President, Coffs City Utd FC