Words and pic Dogwhistle
The Byron Bay Services Club Rams got their first win of the season with a late 2–1 victory over Richmond Rovers in the second round of the ANZAC Cup.
A dogged defence from the Rovers made it tough going, and a series of spectacular saves from their keeper, Chris Jones, kept the scores even.
The breakthrough came 38 minutes in after a deflected power-drive from Lisandro Luaces hit the net.
The contest continued in a similar vein in the second-half with Byron piling on the pressure and Rovers respon ding with spirited counter attacks.
The match erupted mid-way through the half when a melee in the Rams’ box saw Rovers awarded a penalty. Pierce Essery managed to stop the initial strike but was beaten by a follow-up shot.
The equaliser fired-up the Rovers and with both sides chasing the three points it was game on for the remainder of the match.
With less than two minutes on the clock, a through ball from 17-year-old Alby Kay found Diego Vazquez on the run. The striker danced past three Rovers defenders to slide home the winning goal for the Rams.
The win keeps the Rams’ dream of a fifth ANZAC Cup alive and sets up a must-win match against the Lismore Thistles on Friday 13 March at the Recreation Ground.
