TAREE Wildcats has made three significant signings as the club looks to turn around their fortunes in the Coastal Premier League football competition.
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Midfield/defender Shannon Hill from the Central Coast will join Jed Clark from Sydney and club junior Sam Modderno in the club's ranks, starting with the game against Sawtell at Sawtell on Saturday.
"Sam has been working away but he's come home now because he has an apprenticeship,'' Taree coach Ben Sedlen said.
Modderno played with the Wildcats last season.
"Jed played with Sam in the NPL and he's going to have a run with us, while I understand Shannon's moved back into the area and he's signed on.''
Sedlen said the signings are timely after the Wildcats suffered three heavy defeats to start the season. Taree sits in last place, the only side yet to record a competition point.
"They're class players and just what we need,'' Sedlen said.
"And that's why we entered the CPL, to attract quality players. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it seems to be slowly working.''
Sedlen said the side trained 'superbly' on Tuesday night, although he agreed they now have to take that form and energy onto the paddock.
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Taree sits in last place and Sedlen said they badly need points from this weekend to stay with the rest of the field, even though it is early in the season.
However, Sedlen agreed the three newcomers won't be a quick fix for all of Taree's woes.
"We have to improve our defence,'' he said.
"We're letting in simple goals that an under six side would be embarrassed about and that's been our biggest problem so far.''
This was evident last weekend when the Wildcats were never in the contest against Macleay Valley. They conceded early and things deteriorated from there, with Taree eventually going down 7-0.
Taree's attack hasn't been all that flash either as they've only scored the one goal in three outings. Sedlen hopes the addition of Modderno and Clark will help alleviate this problem.
Sawtell, like Taree, reportedly fields a young team.
"We had a good game against them last year, I think it ended in a draw,'' Sedlen said.
In other games this weekend Kempsey Saints will meet Coffs United, Boambee hosts Port Saints, Port City tackles Macleay Valley while Coffs Coast will host Northern Storm.
Boambee remains unbeaten and leads the ladder with nine points from Port United on seven, Port Saints six, Coffs United five, Northern Storm four, Macleay Valley and Kempsey Saints together on three, with Coffs Coast and Sawtell on one, followed by Taree.
Taree's trifecta in women's football
TAREE will field three teams in the Football Mid North Coast Southern League women's competition kicking off tonight.
Eleven sides will contest the competition. Taree will be represented by the Wildcats, Jaguars and Leopards.
There'll be two teams from the Tuncurry-Forster club while Cundletown Jets, Hallidays Point, Pacific Palms, Wingham and Tinonee are the other sides involved.
Taree president Ben Sedlen said there's been a resurgence in the club in senior and junior numbers this season. He said the growth in the number female registrations has been exponential.
"We'll also field a team in the (men's) 35s this year,'' he said. "That's the first time we've had a side there for a couple of years.''
The 35s play on Wednesday nights.
Mr Sedlen pointed out Taree will have two grades in the Coastal Premier League, three women's teams and the 35 men.
He added that having the three women's sides should ensure there's a game at Omaru Park each Friday night.
"This is a credit to the club,'' Football Mid North Coast chief executive Bruce Potter said. "The club has reinvented itself and is definitely headed in the right direction.''
Football Mid North Coast's community competitions all start this weekend.