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Gunnedah United reserve grade has kept its finals hopes alive in Northern Inland Football (NIF) but it looks to have been at the expense of its premier league.
Reserves weathered a nail-biting quarter finals finish against South Armidale United on Saturday, eventually running out 4-3 victors in a penalty shoot-out.
The marathon match which lasted almost two hours, including 30 minutes of extra-time, called on all the resources the club could summon.
As a result, United was forced to bleed some of the best of its first grade line-up into
reserves to help the second XI side get over the line.
But alas, the players drain proved too great and first grade bowed out of this season’s finals race with a 4-3 loss to the Armidale outfit.
“It took its toll on first grade,” United coach Richard Grant said.
“We were down to 10 men for half an hour in the second half and then lost another so we were at nine.”
The coach said there was no way knowing the reserves match would run for as long as it did.
It was simply a matter of playing the cards they were dealt.
“It’s just how things panned out.
“It was certainly a gutsy and determined effort.
“We tried to juggle it as best we could.
“But there was 10 minutes in the second half where they blew us away with two quick goals.
“We were behind the eight-ball in quick time.
“(Armidale) was pretty clinical in front and we probably weren’t as fit across the park.”
Early in the piece, United’s Andy Cygan and Harley Cheetham did well to mount the pressure on the Armidale defence.
Grant said they were unlucky not to be rewarded with goal after a few tight opportunities.
“The first 10 minutes Andy pushed one wide and then Harley was out in front but could only find the keeper,” he said.
“It was tough out there.
“I really thought if we could limit (Armidale) to three goals we were a good shot.
“We couldn’t hold on in defence.
“The whole first grade mob was pretty disappointed.
“They have shown great ticker all year.
“It’s full credit to the 11 that were out there on the weekend.”
United reserves meanwhile will play North Armidale in the next round of finals at a date and time to be set.
The club is awaiting confirmation on the match scheduling after last night’s NIF judiciary hearing into the abandonment of another finals fixture due to a player brawl.
Grant expects the match to be hard game either way.
“We’ll do it tough,” he said.
Related story: "Abandoned match will not be replayed, says NIF"