Jordan Howard hamstrung by hamstring

It was a miserable night for the Wildcats, with goal keeper Curtis Jones injuring a groin while veteran Josh Ferris was another casualty. Taree trailed 3-0 at the break and eventually lost 7-0.

The Wildcats now have to regroup before heading to Port Macquarie tomorrow to meet Port Saints.

“We’re going to have a new look team,’’ coach Rod Bartley said.

“It looks like I’ll be giving a few younger players a go and that might be a good thing.’’

However, Bartley described Howard as irreplaceable.

“Jordan’s our captain and the best player in the comp,’’ he said.

Jones was a gain for the Wildcats this year from Tuncurry-Forster while he played in Wallis Lakes’ premiership winning team in 2016. He had only recently returned from a broken rib.

“I’m not sure how long Curtis will be out, but I wouldn’t expect him to be playing this weekend,’’ Bartley said.

Under the circumstances Bartley said the effort against Port United wasn’t too bad.

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“We had to use reserve graders who had already played 90 minutes,’’ he pointed out.

"They were running around on tired legs by the end of the game.’’

The Wildcats went into last weekend holding third place. However, losses to Camden Haven and Port United has resulted in the side dropping to fifth place, three points clear of Camden Haven in sixth.

“We’ve lost that buffer,’’ Bartley said.

Saturday’s game will also be Taree’s third in a week.

Port Saints had the bye last round while there was no play in the premier league over the June long weekend.

“They’ll be nice and fresh,’’ he said of Saints.

“And in their last match they thrashed Camden Haven 7-0.’’

Bartley admitted he hadn’t even thought about the makeup of his side when he spoke to the Times yesterday.

He’ll also have to find a new captain.

“Josh Ferris is a natural leader and he’ll come into consideration to take over as captain, but it will depend on if he’s fit,’’ Bartley said.

He is Aaron Green would probably replace Jones in goals.

Bartley added that Josh Douglas has been playing strongly in reserves and his form warrants a call into first grade.

“There’s a couple of other players I’ll be looking at as well,’’ he said.

However, he added that the Wildcats must start capitalising on goal scoring chances. He said in the last two games they frittered away opportunities, particularly early in the match.

“We should have scored a couple of goals in the first half against United,’’ he said.

Taree will have the bye next weekend and that’s come a handy time.

LAST year’s Grand Final combatants will go head to head when top-of-the-table Wallis Lake host third placed Port United tomorrow.

The Port Macquarie outfit bounced back to form on Tuesday night with a 7-0 win over Taree Wildcats. After three league losses and an exit from the FFA Cup, United found their goal scoring rhythm. 

Wallis Lake remain undefeated and United are the only team to take a point against them, a 0-0 draw in the opening round of the season at Dixie Park. The teams also met in round three of the FFA Cup in Port Macquarie which was an 8 goal thriller (5-3 to United).

The Camden Haven Redbacks and Macleay Valley Rangers both returned to the winner’s list in round nine after both going down in round eight. Rangers defeated Kempsey Saints 4-0 in the derby while the Redbacks edged out Taree Wildcats 4-3. The match on Saturday in Laurieton will give the Reds a chance to stay right in touch for a run at the finals as the season turns the halfway mark. Their task won’t be easy though with the visitors boasting the best attacking record in the competition. Rangers who sit in second place on the ladder won the round one encounter 3-0.

Cellar dwellers Wauchope SC will make the trip up to Eden Street in Kempsey to take on the fourth placed Saints. Wauchope sit four points adrift from safety with the last placed team dropping out of premier league after this season. They will face a Saints outfit looking to get back on track after back to back losses in the derby to Rangers and away to Wildcats. The Kempsey side also failed to score in both matches, the only two times this season that has happened. When the sides met in round one at Fairmont Gardens, Saints came away with a 2-0 win.

Tuncurry Forster Tigers will have the bye after winning their last two matches. They will host Wallis Lake in the derby in round 11 at South Street.

All first grade matches will kick off at 3pm with reserve grade at 1.15pm.