AFTER reversing one horror trip last weekend, Gunnedah United will be looking to do the same tomorrow when they head up the highway to take on East Armidale in one of the two Northern Inland Premier League knock-out semi-finals.
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Last time the two met, Easts “tapped” Gunnedah up 10-1.
“But we did reverse a three-week-ago 7-nil touch-up last weekend,” Gunnedah coach Richard Grant said, referring to their 2-nil win over Norths United.
It was their first semi-final win since 2002 and is a big bonus for them going into tomorrow.
“Mentally to knock a perennial powerhouse out in Norths gave us a great joy, satisfaction and confidence,” Grant said.
He said going into last week they had no excuses.
The same applies tomorrow.
“We’re definitely good enough this weekend,” he said.
Even without Craig Louis and Matt Chappell. They were standouts for them against Norths but both have work commitments.
One the biggest attributes of both of them is their work ethic.
That’s something Grant has got to replace.
Pat Rankmore will also be back wearing the keeper’s gloves with Aiden James unavailable.
“He (Rankmore) was brilliant last weekend against DK (Demon Knights) in reserve grade,” Grant said.
The game plan won’t change too much, with Easts not dissimilar to Norths in the way they play. They’re probably just a year or two more mature.
“They move it around and are very sharp in front of goals,” Grant said.
“We’ve got to close down their options.
“Make them go back, frustrate them.
“Make them chase us.”
Easts will carry in a similar mindset.
They were unlucky to go down to OVA 1-nil last week.
“It could have gone either way,” coach Mark Gwynne said.
“In the whole game I don’t think we would have had more than four or five shots each.
“We dominated in patches and do did they.”
He isn’t taking much out of that last result against Gunnedah.
They’ll be a different side and will be confident after their win over Norths.
From the reports Gwynne has heard, the young Norths side got bullied off the ball.
“Gunnedah are a big physical team,” he said.
“We’ve got to knock the ball around.”
They can’t get caught up in those 50-50 tussles.
“We’ve got to move it quickly, make them run,” he said.
“Make them chase.”
That’s what they have been doing the last four or five games.
If they can reproduce that, they should get the win, Gwynne said.
The winner will play North Companions in next week’s preliminary final.
OVA are awaiting the winner of the other game between Joeys FC and Demon Knights at the Inverell Sporting Complex.
