There are now two matches remaining in the competition-proper, with the Wildcats having the bye in the last round. However, Taree plays front runners Wallis Lake this weekend at Forster.

“The worst we can do is finish with 31 points and I don’t know if that will be enough to get us into the semi-finals,’’ coach Rod Bartley admitted.

“It’s going to be a very interesting finish.’’

Wallis Lake and Tuncurry-Forster are safe in the five with Wallis Lake winning the minor premiershi. However, Bartley said there’s plenty of pressure on the remaining sides still in contention for the other three places.

Early front runners Camden Haven have now dropped to third place after a late season slump and are under pressure.

Taree went to an early 1-0 lead in the clash against Kempsey via a goal to player of the match Cal Lewis. But from there Bartley said they squandered a number of chances to push further ahead.

“We were just too complacent in front of goals,’’ he said.

“That cost us. It has been a problem area for us all season’’

Kempsey squared the ledger with 15 minutes remaining.

Other than Lewis, Sean Poli-Cini and Lucas Mepham were strong for the Wildcats.

However, Bartley said Saints were more enthusiastic than his squad.

“They just seemed to want it a bit more than we did,’’ he said.

“We have a big match coming up against Wallis on Saturday.’’

“And we're going to be down on numbers. Cal Lewis will be suspended while Tom Griffen is injured.’’

The Wildcats are also without Josh Morris for the rest of the season after he injured his knee in last week’s encounter.

The Wildcats will welcome Jackson Witt back after he missed the encounter against Saints because of suspension.

Witt is Taree’s leading goal scorer this year.