Christian Layland
Byron Bay Rams have bounced back from their first loss of the season to claim a 2–0 win over Tintenbar East Ballina in the Summer Youth League.
Goals from Luca Twomey and Raphael Gorman-Coates saw the Rams climb back to equal first on the ladder in what ended up being a routine, but important, victory.
It was an impressive performance from the Rams, who rarely allowed Tintenbar out of their own half, let alone allowing them into attacking positions.
Byron should have taken the lead in the final minute of the first half when man of the match Ronan Krarup put the ball in the net but the referee disallowed the goal.
The decision did not influence the result of the match as the Rams scored in the first minute of the second half when Twomey hit a one-touch strike off a Krarup cross.
From there Byron set up camp in the Tintenbar front third and peppered their goal with shots.
A combination of good saves, poor finishing and the woodwork continually denied Byron Bay until an impressive build-up play sealed the win.
Winning the ball deep in his own half, Harry Barlow started an attack that saw a combination of one-touch passing cut through Tintenbar’s defence, giving Gorman-Coates the space for an impressive finish past the goalkeeper.
In their previous game the Rams travelled to Casino where they suffered their first defeat of the SYL going down 2–1 to the Cobras.
The win sets up a huge match against Richmond Rovers this Friday with both teams in the hunt for the premiership. Kick-off is 8pm at Neilson Park, Lismore.
