Story & photo Dogwhistle
With round 7 of the Summer Youth League coinciding with the start of Schoolies, both the SAE–Qantm Byron Bay squad and Lismore Workers took to the pitch with skeleton crews.
The young Rams were also missing some of their older and more experienced players and, while only fielding eleven, the Workers team was an older and much more experienced unit that any the Byron boys have faced so far.
Young Rams’ striker, Adam Budd, put Byron on the scoreboard in the opening minutes with a deft tap into the bottom corner.
The early goal spurred Workers into action, however, and their dominance increased throughout the game. Byron’s depleted midfield and defence struggled to contain the Workers attack. Byron managed many powerful counterattacks, but couldn’t break the Workers’ back line.
Byron captain and mentor, Ben Ahern, penalised repeatedly for his tough tackling style, was eventually ordered from the field after receiving his second yellow card.
Already outgunned, the 10-man Rams team did their best to hold back the red tide but age, experience and numbers were against them. The final whistle blew on a 5–1 scoreline despite a valiant effort from the Rams against a polished display from Lismore Workers.
Round 8 sees the Rams at home against traditional rival, Lismore Thistles. Round 7 upsets have seen Richmond Rovers and Bangalow bump Byron and Thistles out of their equal-second spot so this week’s match will see them battling for fourth spot on the ladder.
Be at the Ewingsdale ground for a 7pm kick-off and cheer our lads on.