A soggy pitch in Canberra welcomed the Palerang visitors on the weekend. Due to injuries and sickness, our numbers were down to 12, however, the players enthusiasm was not dampened by the wetness of the field. 

“Nick, if we let the ball do the work, we should come out on top, “said sweeper Tristan Neate to coach, Nick Fry. Tristan was right. For the second week in a row, Palerang turned at 1-0 lead at half-time into a resounding 7-1 victory by full time.

Manager “smiley” Kylie Bunn, as she is known to the players, said after the match, “I can’t help but smile after displays like today on the field. The teamwork, ball control and the composure of these guys is terrific. They have come such a long way in the season,” gleamed Kylie.

The win puts Palerang into 2nd place on the ladder, with the final match of the season next week against the currently undefeated Burgman side. 

Palerang’s goal keeper, Kayne Critchlow said, “The boys really want to finish the season on a high note. We are all really motivated and know we can topple Burgman,” gleamed Critchlow who is gaining a reputation for leaving his goal area and advancing up the field when there is a corner to the Palerang side. Critchlow even should have scored in the game, a beautifully taken corner by Angus Bunn was perfectly set up for Critchlow to glance a header in, but was off target. “To be honest, I feel a bit embarrassed that I missed,” laughed Critchlow.

The match was probably best summed up by Harry Fry, “We wore them down from the start. We knew once we opened our goal scoring account, goals would flow from there.” 

6 Goals in the second half laid testament to Fry’s statement.

It is fitting that our last game of the season is at the home of Braidwood football, the Braidwood Rec Ground at 3.10pm this Saturday, in what should be a terrific finale to the season. 1 plays 2 in what should be a cracker of a game.

As “Smiley Kylie” Bunn always says, “If you do not believe you can win, then you have no chance to win at all,” indeed wise words from Manager Bunn.

Nick Fry