Free-scoring Bulls are on the charge
MAREEBA Utd is riding a wave of confidence ahead of a do-or-die clash with JCU Strikers.
The Bulls finished the regular season with a loss to Edge Hill Utd, but captain Nicole Ghensi said their late goals against the competition heavyweight – Mareeba Utd’s first against a top-two side in four games this year – would provide plenty of confidence as they kickstart their postseason.
The left midfielder said she was confident her side’s attacking prowess, which netted 11 goals in two games against Strikers, could be the difference when the whistle blows.
“JCU, we’ve beaten twice so hopefully it will be another win for us,” Ghensi said.
“They do bring a challenge to us but our attacking play against them seems to work, and our defence is solid.
“It was great getting a home game, super happy about that, and it’s always good playing on the big field ... in front of our home crowd.”
It is a repeat of last year’s qualifying final, in which Strikers shocked the Bulls in extra time to end their season, and JCU is keen to repeat history when it travels over the range on Sunday afternoon.
JCU was a clear fourth, finishing the regular season two wins behind the Bulls and three ahead of Stratford.
The team have known they’d be playing finals football for weeks, which has allowed coach Victor Neckebroeck time to tinker with the line-up and settle on a goalkeeper.
Strikers captain, midfielder Kelsey Grant, said the lack of a permanent goalkeeper had hurt the side, though they had mostly made up for it with their league-leading attack, which has netted 74 goals.
Astia Neckebroeck ended the regular season as the leading goalscorer with 29.
“We’ve had a few injuries and we don’t have a set goalkeeper which has been tough, but it’s good to scrape into the top four,” Grant said.
“Hopefully we can be on this weekend. It’s definitely going to be a tough game, they have a very strong side and a very tough goalkeeper.
“It’s going to be close.”