Lions beat Mareeba to secure finals spot

FOOTBALL LEICHHARDT captain Cameron Nucifora was not surprised Mareeba United was a handful when the sides met at White Rock on Saturday night.

The last-round FNQ Premier League fixture carried extra significance for both teams.

The Lions were third, and had to win to seal their place in the finals and give themselves a chance to finish in the top two.

Mareeba was fifth, with a win vital to secure any hope of featuring in the post-season.

“We knew it would be tough,” Nucifora said. “We both had to win.”

Neither side was able to break the deadlock until Caoimhin Fowler – better known as Quivi – fired in his first and only game in the red and black for some time.

Fowler, one of five star footballing siblings which includes Matildas young gun Mary, put his former junior team on the front foot at the break, dealing an important psychological blow to the Bulls.

“A goal like that, it just puts us on the front foot,” Nucifora said. “We had a lot of chances but Quivi just buried it.

“He’s a class player. I trained with him a bit when he was younger but it’s good to be able to play alongside him.”

That halftime one-goal lead was doubled in the 77th minute when Josh Mulla scored his first goal of the season.

The 2-0 score would not change, as the Lions ended the Bulls’ season and shifted their focus to the finals.

“We’re quietly confident,” Nucifora said. “We know we can win games but our problem has been we haven’t had the same XI on the field.

“We need to concentrate on playing our game.”

Stratford drew with Edge Hill United 1-1 on Saturday, but all eyes were on Edmonton for Southside’s clash with Marlin Coast.

After Leichhardt’s win, the Rangers had to win their lastround game to secure a spot in the major semi-final.

The Comets led 2-0 but the Rangers managed to claw back for a 3-2 win and seal second spot on the ladder. Lions will host the minor semi final.