A BRENDAN Fergie penalty was the difference when Oxley Vale Attunga’s Mushrooms ended the North Armidale Redmen’s NIF Premier League season at Phil Wheaton Oval, Armidale on Saturday.
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Fergie’s first-half penalty earned the Mushies a 1-nil win in the McDonald’s-sponsored PL preliminary final and a grand final berth against South Armidale.
It was a second successive finals away win.
They had beaten Inverell’s Joeys FC in Inverell 1-nil the previous week from a Ben Genardini goal and repeated the 1-nil away win with Fergie’s calm conversion.
While the Mushies’ second grade side lost 1-nil to Tamworth FC earlier in the day, its first grade side held firm against the home side.
“It was a cut and thrust sort of game,” OVA coach Tim Coates said.
“Both sides attacked throughout and it was played in good spirit although a few players did get cards for what I thought was good, hard football.”
Coates made just one substitution, bringing Lachlan Browne on for Matt Dunn late in the game.
“Matty was stuffed – he’d run himself into the ground,” Coates said.
“They used all three of their subs.
“I thought the game changed when they brought on Michael Griffiths.
“He’s very dangerous – can score a goal.”
Lucily he didn’t and OVA edged through for a second successive one-goal win.
Coates thought Cameron Skewes was best on ground, having a big game at the back along with Glenn McKnight.
“I also thought Ryan Searl was excellent and Dan Cannon had probably his best game of the season.
“It was just a great team effort.”
Jason Boundy was one of North’s best again, along with Brad Dunham and Jim Birmingham.