THE Coffs City United Lions have stormed into the HIT105.5 Men’s Premier League Grand Final, dismantling the Woolgoolga Wolves 4-1 in a second-half blitz at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Despite finishing six points clear atop the ladder and claiming back-to-back Premierships, the Wolves were reminded that finals football plays by its own rules.
Woolgoolga struck early, James Gorrie opening the scoring in the 16th minute to give the league leaders a 1-0 edge heading into the sheds.
But whatever was said in the Lions’ dressing room at halftime worked.
Captain Martin Kelleher levelled just two minutes after the restart, then added a second in the 51st minute to flip the contest on its head.
From there, Coffs City were ruthless.
Asad Qasim made it 3-1 before Nuno Lopez iced the result, booking the Lions a ticket to the September 13 decider.
For Woolgoolga, the road to the grand final isn’t over just yet.
They’ll host Northern Storm on 6 September for a second crack at the big dance.
The Storm kept their title hopes alive with a 2-0 win over the Yamba Breakers in the elimination play-off.
After a tense, goalless first half, James Tial and Campbell Brear struck in quick succession to end Yamba’s campaign.
Brear’s goal – his 15th of the season – keeps him in the hunt for the Golden Boot, though he still trails Yamba’s Taylor Corbacho, who tops the charts with 18.
By David WIGLEY
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