Saints' season officially draws to a close

Saints went into the final round of the season sitting two competition points behind the Redbacks, who were in fifth place.

Kempsey had a bye and automatically received three competition points and they needed a draw or a loss from the Redbacks to advance to the finals, as the Saints had a superior goal differential.

However, the Redbacks secured the victory and the last finals position in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League first grade competition.

Saints coach Kevin Sinclair is disappointed his side won't contest the finals series.

"We pretty well knew we were done once the Redbacks beat the Rangers a couple of weeks ago," Sinclair said.

"Having to rely on them to lose to Wauchope was always going to end badly but I watched the second half of the match as the Saints girls played after them and Wauchope gave it a good crack so credit to them.

"To finish outside of the semi-finals is disappointing. As first grade coach, I have a responsibility to get the side as far as I can and I feel as if I have under performed., it's quite disappointing."

Despite missing the finals a year after they came fifth, Saints showed signs of improvement against the top teams this season, but their inability to punish teams below them on the ladder ultimately proved costly.

Kempsey had only one more loss than the second placed Macleay Valley Rangers and two less than the Redbacks but they were forced to settle for six draws, three more than any other side.

Sinclair acknowledges the draws cost them in the end.

"We were leading in four of those draws and if we had of won just one of them then we would be in the finals," he said.

"We have to learn how to close those games out. Hopefully it's a learning curve for our players.

"The best teams in the competition play every game like it's an elimination final and punish the lower teams. We haven't instilled that in us yet. we turn up with the right attitude against the top teams but allow the others into the game too easily."

Saints defeated the Rangers, drew with the third placed Wallis Lake twice, drew with Port Saints and the Redbacks and on the back of these performances, Sinclair believes they could have given the finals a shake.

"We played some good football this year, the only team we didn't get points off were Port United," he said.

"It's a shame we didn't make the finals because I think we could have done some damage."

Although their season comes to a premature end, Kempsey can hold their heads high after progressing further than the other Premier League sides in the FFA Cup and blooding lots of talented young players who will grow next season.

The Saints' title hopes remain alive in the reserve grade competition, as they take on Port Saints in an elimination final this Saturday.

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