NORTHS Companions may have beaten Hillvue in all Northern Inland Soccer League matches this season but that will mean nothing when the two sides meet in the preliminary final today.
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Northies coach Andrew McFarlane said his side’s wins against Hillvue were a long time ago.
“Forget the two games we beat them in. That was a long time ago and they are on a roll after the way they played against Gunnedah,” McFarlane said.
“They didn’t look like they were going to make it a while ago but now they are one game away from a grand final so they’ll be pumped up.”
Hillvue manager Alf Small said the return of West Lions grand final star Dean Hoy would boost the Rovers for today’s clash at the Marius St playing fields.
“He’ll make a bit of a difference.
“He stirs them up and gets the boys motivated. He does a good job,” Small said..
Small is confident the full-strength Hillvue side can win through to the grand final against North Armidale after narrowly scraping into the play-offs.
“I have said all through we can beat any side in this competition once we get a full-strength team back together,” Small said.
“There’s a bit of a rivalry between us, but we’ll be there to win and then go to Armidale and hope we can win up there.”
Hillvue snuck into the semis after UNE/TAS was humbled by Kootingal in the final round of competition.
Minor premiers Northies were beaten 3-1 by North Armidale in last weekend’s major semi but McFarlane believes the loss was a wake-up call the side needed.
“I think it was a good wake-up call to them. They have knuckled down this week.
“I haven’t really said much to them at all,” he said.
“A few of them have woken up a bit because they won’t get another chance now.”
McFarlane has also been able to name a full-strength side with the return of left midfielder Phil Johnson.
“This is the first time I have been able to put the squad I have wanted on the paddock all year,” McFarlane said.
“Hopefully the whole team will lift another gear. If Adam Gray, Ben Todd and Dion Beijeman have a good game, the rest will follow.”
In reserve grade, North Armidale plays UNE/TAS for the right to play minor premiers South Armidale in the grand final.
HILLVUE: Mick Gay (goalkeeper), Matthew Hunt (right back), Matthew Huckle (left back), Robert Jeffrey (centre back), Nathan Leis, Dean Hoy, Chris Fenton, Neville Fullwood, Aaron Follington (midfielders), Nathan Cash, Craig Bynge, Corey Terbeeke (strikers) one to be omitted. Reserves: Carlos Soto, Adam Schultz, Michael Allwell.
NORTH COMPANIONS: Craig Davis (goalkeeper), Nigel Russell (sweeper), Mark Doyle (stopper), Les Mozzell (right back), Dave Errington (left back), Phil Johnson (left midfield), Adam Gray, Ben Todd (centre midfielders), Mick O’Brien (right half), Dion Beijeman, Brent Moffett (strikers). Reserves: Adrian Simpson, Andrew Mitchell, Robert Klump.
