Rangers keep a trick up sleeve

FOOTBALL THERE’S no shame in a second-place finish in the league, although Marlin Coast coach Stuart Veall has always had very high expectations.

The Rangers’ 4-1 win against Leichhardt, combined with Stratford being held to a 1-1 draw against Innisfail United, put them into the second chance position at the end of the Premier Men regular season, setting up a grand final qualifier with premiers Southside Comets.

Veall said top spot was his target when he arrived at the club, but after battles with injury and availability during the season, he was happy enough.

“I’m disappointed I’m not first,” he said. “But in saying that I’m happy where we are. From where we’ve been to where we are, the players have done an amazing job.

“The only team that has really troubled us is Southside – well not so much troubled us, they beat us 1-0, 1-0 – and they deserve to be there (on top).”

Veall was adamant in “two more games” he would be lifting a trophy with his players, but first that means overcoming the Comets, who they beat 1-0 in their first encounter of the year.

This week the focus will be on bringing out the best in the Rangers’ attack, which ranked fifth at the end of the regular season, although they had the best defence in the league.

“What happens during the season is you’ve got to be consistent and consistency comes by not conceding goal. But finals is a different cup of tea,” Veall said. “I haven’t let everything out of the bag.” Marlin Coast coach Stuart Veall.

Southside coach Chris Collins said he was certain Veall had “a few tricks up his sleeve” for their clash this weekend.

The Comets got through their final round match unscathed and with a 1-0 win against Edge Hill.

Will Monin and Kirito Higuchi will return to the line-up for the finals match after both represented Peninsula under-19 last week, where they made the Queensland team.

Collins said it would be important to ensure he had the depth to change the game plan if things went pear-shaped against the Rangers.

“If things don’t go to Plan A, you’ve got to have a Plan B with a good bench you can bring into the game,” he said.

Stratford and Innisfail will face off again, likely at the same venue, but the Dolphins will be without Michael van Hooren, who received his second red card of the season on Saturday after two bookable offences.

Their draw meant Mareeba missed the finals.

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