Bangalow and Suffolk Park won their respective Round One games last Friday night to stay alive in the Westfield FFA Cup for 2016. With Lismore Thistles also progressing due to Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley forfeiting, three FFNC teams will fight out the zone title over the next few months.
Bangalow Bluedogs took longer than they may have expected to get over rivals Lennox Head before eventually winning 4-1. The Sharks fielded a mostly young side and their performance would have given coach Paul Kirkland some encouragement. For Bangalow, coach Neil Fuller would have been satisfied with the victory, while realising that his side will need to step it up for the season ahead if they want to test the strong teams like defending premiers Lismore Richmond Rovers.
The second Westfield FFA Cup game saw Suffolk Park continue their late surge in 2015 that eventually saw them come from third to win the 2015 Men’s Division One grand final, with the Phoenix scoring an inspiring 2-1 win over Ballina. The seasiders are back in Men’s Division 1 for 2016 and the focus for this season will be on rebuilding.
Round 2 games will be confirmed within the next 7 days and scheduled around ANZAC Cup and the start of the pointscore competition.
