MBVFC’s first premiership team in 36 years lost to Lismore 2–1 last Saturday. Photo supplied
By Albert Moses
Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley Football Club (MBVFC) returned to the top tier of men’s football for the first time in 36 years, when they took on the Lismore Thistles in Football Far North Coast’s premier league.
The MBVFC have never won this division and are attempting to build a team that can change this over the coming seasons.
The match up was part of an enthralling double header played at their home ground on Pine Avenue against seasoned veterans. The Lismore Thistles are the second most successful premiership team in the competition’s history.
Game one saw the Valley’s Championship team take to the pitch and concede an early goal in the first minutes of the game. The second half saw the Valleys turn the game around with two fine goals from talented youngsters Luke Darbyshire and Raen Santos.
Game two looked promising, with the men’s premier league team playing a cagey first 15 minutes while they found their feet, followed by some quick combination play and the club’s first ever goal in the top tier by Ethan Zikhron.
The second half saw the more experienced Thistles side taking advantage of some lapses in concentration from the newcomers, with a goal from a corner taken quickly and then a second mid-range shot of some quality taken while the Valleys paused to dispute a challenge off the ball.
Around 150 spectators came to see the show and provide plenty of support.
