GUNNEDAH FC will be looking to earn a spot in the first grade grand final "the hard way" after going down 1-0 to North Companions in the major semi-final on Saturday.
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Travelling to Tamworth to take on the minor premiers, FC battled hard in a see-sawing encounter only to fall just short at the final whistle.
The win sees Northies progress into the grand final on September 14, while FC will clash with South Lightning in the preliminary final on Saturday.
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FC captain Matt Williams said his side "shouldn't be too down on themselves" after Saturday's loss.
"We matched it with Northies for most of the game and probably had a few more chances than they did," Williams said.
"However, they just made the most of the luck they had and got the better of us on the day.
"Now we will just have to look at making the grand final the hard way, through the preliminary final against Souths."
Saturday's loss comes just weeks after FC defeated North Companions 2-0 in a regular season game.
"We certainly know we can match it with Northies," Williams said.
"At times during the season we were able to prove that, but for now we are not looking to get too far ahead of ourselves and instead will focus on Souths."
Williams said defence would be his side's major focus heading into Saturday's preliminary final.
"I think defence has been one of our major strengths over the past few seasons has been our defence and it will have to be sharp again if we want to be Souths," he said.
"It will be something we will certainly work hard on and hopefully, with our high fitness level we should be able to match it with them."
In reserve grade, a 1-0 victory over South Lightning has seen FC progress through to the grand final on September 14.
"It was great to see our reserve grade side book their spot in the grand final," Williams said.
"They were pretty lucky to score a freakish goal to get ahead, but they rode their luck and picked up a great win."