TAREE football coach Ben Sedlen has sent an SOS out to players in the club's over 35s side as he looks to fill holes in the first and reserve grade teams to play Coffs City Tigers in the Coastal Premier League clash at Coffs Harbour tomorrow.
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The game was postponed from the first week of the season because of flooding. This weekend is the general bye in the competition.
"We'll be without four or five first graders this weekend. They'd already booked holidays away because of the long weekend,'' Sedlen said.
"We're not sure how many we will have unavailable because we had an issue with the lights at Omaru on Tuesday night, so we didn't train.''
However, Sedlen has messaged (SMS) members of the over 35s squad hoping they can help. "There's some good players there, so hopefully we'll be able to work something out,'' he said.
"But it is what it is. We'll meet our commitment this weekend.''
Sedlen hopes the Tigers could be in the same position. "But they're playing at home, so it should be easier for them to find replacements."
The Wildcats have produced two improved performances against top three teams in the last fortnight, going down to Boambee 3-1 and Port United 4-2.
However, Sedlen said he won't be putting as much emphasis on the result this weekend, given the club will be short-staffed. He added that playing at Coffs Harbour is difficult enough at the best of times, let alone when the club is minus players.
The second round will begin on Saturday week and Sedlen hopes this will usher in some encouraging results for the Wildcats. The club has yet to win a game this season.
One positive will be the fact the club won't have to head to the Coffs Harbour area as often.
"I think we only have two games up there, so that should help,'' Sedlen said.
Meanwhile there'll be no play in Football Mid North Coast's southern senior and junior competitions this weekend. Perennial powerhouse Tuncurry-Forster Tigerettes leads the way in Southern League women. The unbeaten Tigerettes have 15 points ahead of Cundletown Jets, Pacific Palms and locked on 12. Tuncurry-Forster Cubs follow on 9 then Wallamba 7, Hallidays Point and Taree Wildcats 4 while Taree Leopards, Taree Jaguars and Tinonee all have 3.
Pacific Palms sit on top of the Southern League men with 15 from Wingham Warriors 13, Cundle 12, Tuncurry-Forster Gold 9, Tinonee 7, Tuncurry-Forster Black 6, Old Bar 6, Hallidays Point 6, Wallamba 4, Lansdowne 3, Wingham Wanderers 1.
