In the second-last regular game of the season the Byron Bay Football Club senior men’s teams had a win and a draw, but have done enough for both sides to play finals football.
Taking on Bangalow at home in the Championship League last Friday night at Byron Bay, the locals got up to a 1–0 lead at half time, but soon found themselves down 2–1, before slotting the late equaliser.
‘I was probably a bit too conservative in the second half,’ coach Greg Kelly said.The result left Byron Bay second on the ladder behind Bangalow with Alstonville and Richmond Rovers completing the top four. With one more round of the regular competition these are also the likley finalists.
In the Premiership League later that night Byron Bay ran out winners 1–0 over Bangalow.
Byron Bay currently sits third on the ladder behind Richmond Rovers and Alstonville, with South Lismore in fourth.
Going into the finals the coach is ‘very happy’ about the capabilities and resilience of the sides.
‘We are playing good football and have been working on keeping the ball on the ground and our passing game,’ he said.
The sides have also been able overcome adversity, like depleted numbers, or being behind on the scoreboard.
The biggest problem going into the finals is personal, particularly in terms of defenders.
‘It has been a very disrupted season with covid, the regular flu, as well as the floods. The gig economy doesn’t help us get a full complement of players either,’ coach Kelly said.
The strategy going into the finals will be to play to Byron’s strength – and that is attacking football.
Finals football starts after this weekend.
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