Merewether won the game 3-2. This was Mid Coast's first loss for the season, although the side had already won the premiership as they were on top of the ladder at the completion of the competition-proper.

Coach Brenton Doyle thinks grand final nerves may have got the better of some of his players.

"I've never seen a side so nervous before a game,'' he said.

Doyle said the team just didn't get into a groove. They made too many uncharacteristic errors and were unable to maintain pressure.

"But in saying that, we fought back from 1-0 down and 2-1 down,'' he said.

"And with the score a 2-2 we had two golden chances to score goals. Unfortunately we didn't make the most of them.''

Merewether scored the winning goal with eight minutes left. Mid Coast threw everything at the defence in the last stages of the match but couldn't get the equaliser.

Despite the grand final loss, Doyle said it has been a great year.

"The players have their medals for winning the premiership,'' he said.

"There were a lot of tears at fulltime. But they'll learn from the loss. A defeat can be character building.''

He said the squad has been together since January and have been through a lot.

"We had to put up with the lockdown, then we were told we couldn't stay in the competition when the COVID regulations changed before we were reinstated,'' he pointed out.

"And don't forget all the travel that's involved to play and train.''

There's players in the squad from South West Rocks to Forster-Tuncurry. There were two training sessions a week held at Port Macquarie and Taree.

"They've been awesome.''

"I'm proud of every single member of the team.''

Doyle said he's keen to continue coaching in the division.

In three years he's taken the teams to three grand finals. This is his first loss. He teams have also won three premierships and twice taken out the State championship. The State titles weren't conducted this year.

The under 14s were Football Mid North Coast's most successful premier league team this year. In the seniors Mid Coast just missed a spot in the Herald Women's Premier League first grade semi-finals and were beaten in the reserve grade final.

Trials have started for 2021 squads.