WINGHAM'S win in the under 16 competition will provide further incentive for the first grade side to win Saturday's Football Mid North Coast Premier League promotion/relegation game against Tuncurry-Forster at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium.
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"We know we have some good young footballers coming through the ranks,'' coach Andrew Maitland said.
"So the players are determined to stay in the premier league for them.''
The Warriors came last in the premier league this season while Tuncurry-Forster won the Southern League competition undefeated. Tuncurry-Forster lost the relegation game last season to Port Saints.
This will also be the third time Wingham has been involved in the match. So far the club's record is a loss and a win - although the win was via a penalty shoot out.
History is against the Warriors as no club has yet been able to defend their place in the premier league since the promotion/relegation game was introduced.
However, Maitland said the Warriors were playing some good football towards the end of the season and in fact won their last game.
Wingham hasn't had a game for a month while Tuncurry-Forster will be battle hardened after playing in the Southern League finals series. The Tigers won their grand final a fortnight ago.
Wingham has been further disadvantaged by the fact the squad hasn't had a training run together. Up to half a dozen players travel from Newcatle each week, as has been the case all season.
"They've been training down there,'' Maitland assured.
"All the players know each other's game. I don't think that will be a problem and we're hoping to get most of the players at training tonight (Thursday).''
Maitland said Alex Ihlow, Mitch Bevitt and goal keeper David Castro will play key roles tomorrow.
"Alex was finding the net consistenly while Castro pulled off some great saves,'' he said.
Maitland hasn't seen Tuncurry-Forster play this year.
"I was going down to watch them in the grand final but I was in bed all weekend with the flu,'' he said.
"But we have to worry about our game and let them worry about theirs.''
The match will kickoff at 10.30.
"We're back to under 14 days,'' Maitland said of the earlier start.
"I'm not too thrilled about that. But as least we won't be hanging around all day getting nervous.''