Tamworth FC skipper Tim Smith flies high in this contest with OVA's Chris Fenton at Scully Park on Saturday. Photo: Grant Robertson 220912GRB58
VICTORIOUS Tamworth FC coach Wayne May said all the hard work over the past four years was well worth it after his side’s grand final win on
Saturday.
Following the 2-1 result the founding coach of the newest club in Tamworth pointed to the great mix of players he had at his disposal this season.
“It’s a huge thing for these blokes,” May said.
“It’s four years in the
making.
“I didn’t think we’d do it this quick, but we’ve done it.
“Guys like Will Kam, Travis Beard and Dylan (May) played in the juniors and are coming through now.
“We picked up Damien Puyenbroek and Chris Soto this year and they just added an extra edge.
“Damien didn’t miss a header today and the goal he scored, it’s something we’ve been waiting weeks for and this time it came off.
“It’s something we worked on.”
After Tim Smith’s penalty and Puyenbroek’s header the sky blues had to turn attack into defence as Oxley Vale Attunga fought back.
That was a concern for the coach.
“In the last 15 minutes before halftime OVA threw a lot at us,” May said.
“We were backing off them too much.
“I couldn’t wait to get them back in the dressing sheds at halftime and get to them.
“Then we came out and started the second half the way we started the first half.
“But in the end they didn’t score a goal against us.”
The only OVA score was from a TFC own goal, but the Mushies did threaten a number of times.
It took some good work to keep them out.
“Yuan Blanco made a couple of great saves towards the end,” May said.
“He tipped a couple over the bar well.
“We could have sealed it a couple of times.
“We had two good opportunities where we could have buried them.
“But credit to OVA, you can’t relax against them.
“They’re like a bull terrier, they keep coming at you and coming at you.”
May gave special credit to Matt Gardner for keeping OVA’s main striker Mitch O’Keefe out of the game for the majority of the time.
“Matty Gardner marked him out of the game again,” May said.
“He kept him very quiet.”
Not a lot went right for OVA in the decider.
The controversial early penalty was certainly a sore point and the missed opportunities at the other end just added salt to the wound.
“It wasn’t a penalty and the second one, we had a free kick just before that, and then they got a free kick,” OVA Sam Higgins said.
“But you make your own luck, as they say.
“We always backed ourselves to get a goal and we had a bit of luck and got one.
“Then Fergie hit the bar and I thought it went in.
“If we could have drawn level we go on and win it I reckon, but we never got it.”
The disappointment of the loss, compounded by a second grade defeat, didn’t leave the Mushies feeling too good about the day.
But in many ways it was another good year for the club nonetheless.
“It’s been a pretty good season for us,” Higgins said.
“To get two sides into the grand finals, you’ve got to be happy with that.
“You have to take the positives out of a day like this.
“Hopefully we’ll come back and improve.”
