Gunnedah FC had just cracked their first celebratory beers after sealing their Northern Inland Premier Division finals berth when the news filtered through that it wouldn't be Oxley Vale Attunga they would be facing, as expected in the semi-final, but rather Tamworth FC.
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After getting the job done against Kootingal 6-2, Moore Creek's upset win over North Companions saw Gunnedah jump up to third with South United sneaking into fourth.
It did come as a bit of a surprise with coach Andy Cygan admitting in the back of his mind, he was preparing to play the Mushies.
"We thought both grades would be playing OVA," he said.
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Cygan was pretty happy with Saturday's performance for their final hit-out before the finals, although needing to win to make sure of their spot in the four there were a couple of nervous moments.
"We started pretty well and went 2-nil up but then they scored two amazing goals from probably 20 and 35 yards out and made it 2-2, and for five or 10 minutes there it was a bit of a panic but I think we got a couple of quick goals," he said.
That gave them a bit of momentum and they kicked away, Rob Pryor shrugging off a knee complaint to continue his goal scoring form with a hat-trick. In the last five games he has now scored 13 goals.
All this with a "lump the size of a 20 cent piece" on his knee.
"He said some days it's good, some days it's bad," Cygan said.
He was a bit reluctant for him to play, but Pryor said he wanted to and came out and scored his second hat-trick in three games.
"That's just what you get with him.
"We'd be lost without him," he said.
And Harley Cheetham, who also chipped in with a goal.
The two have formed a formidable combination up front.
"They're just too hard to handle for defenders," Cygan said.
He is hoping that will continue on Saturday.
They have lost both of their games against Tamworth FC but they have been close tussles.
"If we turn up it'll be a good game, I'm sure of that," he said.
He said reserve grade have been a bit of a surprise packet.
"To have won nine of 14 games is really good I think at any level and we've ended up four points off the top," he said.
"None us expected to get up there in reserves, it's been a good effort."