Panthers on right track to pounce

On the attack: PottsvilleOpen B-grade player Glen Taylor launches an attack in the 3-2 win over Mullumbimby on Sunday.

Blainey Woodham

THE leader of the Pottsville Panthers pack David Lonie says his men are ready to prove their worth in the Football Far North Coast Premier League.

Content with his side’s 1-1 draw against perpetual front-runners Byron Bay in the opening round of the pre-season Anzac Cup on Sunday, the veteran captain-coach believes the Panthers are on track for a stellar season.

Lonie said that while he thinks Pottsville should have secured all three points at Koala Beach Sports Fields, the boys still looked good and he genuinely believes they can make the finals in their top-flight return.

“Byron are always one of the strong, gun sides and were top-three last year, so overall I am happy with how we played,” he said. “There’s no doubt we had our chances to claim a win but it was a good start and good gauge for where we are at.

“If we keep playing like that all year and go on with the job, then we’ll be troubling a lot of teams at the top.”

The Panthers stalked the Byron 18-yard box for much of the first half but failed to captialise on their possession and territory. After having a penalty saved, they quickly found themsleves a goal down against the run of play as halftime approached.

In a far more balanced second half, both sides had scoring opportunites but failed to convert, with defence dominating the game.

However, 20 minutes in, a Tait Burns’ cross found the head of Josh Boag and the talented striker guided the ball into the net for the Panthers’ equaliser. “The boys didn’t give up, they dug in and stepped up and gave it to Byron,” Lonie said.

In the other match from Pottsville’s group, Ballina and Lismore Workers drew 1-1 so all teams are level on points.

In the Open B competition, Pottsville’s second-string outfit – a mash of under-16s and over-35s – registered a tight 3-2 win over Mullumbimby, while in Open A, Burringbar’s superb start to the season continued with the 7-1 thrashing of Lennox Head 2.