Story courtesy of Northern NSW Football

Wallsend FC V West Wallsend SFC

Magic Park, August 27, 2:15 pm

A local derby in the Grand Final, with passion sure to run high as second placed Wallsend take on fourth-placed Westy.

They have each taken three points from the two times they’ve faced off this season – the Red Devils prevailing 2-1 in round 9 at Johnston Park before West Wallsend turned it around with a 3-2 win in round 20 at The Gardens.

This Wallsend 23s side is the only among the four senior grades to have made the semi-finals, and drew big support to each of their semi final matches.

Five points behind Premiers Cooks Hill, Wallsend were pushed all the way in the regular season and had to rely on a tight 2-1 win over Kahibah in the final week of competition to secure the second spot.

The 4-2 aggregate win over Thornton in the semifinals will have proved good preparation for Sunday’s match. Trent Richards is the Red Devils’ top scorer with eight goals from 12 appearances – a strike rate which may prove the difference.

Expect a big turnout from the Red Devil faithful as they get behind the youngsters on Sunday.

A fired up Westy side celebrated long and loud as they beat Cooks Hill 6-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals – no mean feat, as they finished a total 14 points behind the premiers.

West Wallsend has fielded a massive 44 players in their 22 fixtures this season, but Mitch Maxton and Aiden Hampton lead the way in goals scored with 6 apiece.

West Wallsend are on a hot streak of form right now. They haven’t lost in their last seven, scoring 22 goals on the way – including four in a 4-1 drubbing of  Singleton in round 18.