TAREE scored a stunning 4-3 penalty shootout win to upset Macleay Valley in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League minor semi-final played at Kempsey.

This is the first time the Wildcats have defeated Macleay this season.

The game was a real marathon after the scores were locked at 1-1 at fulltime. The teams played two 10 minute periods of golden goal extra time before the penalty shoot out was applied with the scores still tied.

Taree captain Adam Ferris won the toss and elected to take the first of the five penalty kicks, which he converted.

Rangers scored the next and keeper Josh Ferris then scored Taree’s second. Dean Wilkinson made it three for Taree before Josh Ferris saved the Kempsey shot and this put the pressure on Rangers with the score at 3-2. Jackson Witts scored Taree’s fourth.

Rangers had a chance to again level the score but their last player hit the shot wide and Taree lived to advance into next weekend’s final against Camden Haven.

Earlier the match was a real arm wrestle played in heat wave conditions.

Several shots early were saved by both keepers but Taree slowly started to dominate field position and Josh Alley made a great run down the right wing, beating two defenders but his shot went wide.

Alley missed another a minute later with the keeper well beaten. Taree received a corner on the left with Witts hitting the cross bar and the ball rebounded just wide. Macleay then took play downfield and this resulted in Taree giving away a soft corner.

Keeper Ferris made a great save only for Macleay to receive another corner.

Taree failed to clear and the Kempsey striker scored from close range to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

Taree again had several shots at goal before halftime but poor finishing proved costly.

The second half started with Taree again dominating play but again couldn’t get the much needed goal.

In the 60th minute Jesse Gould was fouled in the Macelay penalty box resulting in a direct penalty which Wilkinson calmly placed in the right hand corner.

From here both sides threw everything at each other in an attempt to break the deadlock although neither side was successful. Taree’s best were the Ferris brothers, Adam and Josh, Paul Martin, Rhys Christensen and Peter Crossman.

Taree now meets Camden Haven in the final next Saturday.