The Atherton Eagles went into their grand final match against the Douglas Dragon without their number one striker Scott Rawlings.
The talented striker was serving a suspension picked up in last Friday’s Semi- final against the Mareeba Bulls.
With some spectators thinking that the match was a forgone conclusion with Douglas easily accounting for the Eagles, no one told the Tableland outfit. Atherton came out fighting in the first half but the Dragons controlled the mid field and were able to halt their progress to the final third.
It was Douglas who drew first blood when Juan Benitez sent the premiership winning team ahead.
As the match became a tug of war it was Atherton midfielder Jason Curcio who struck a long hard ball into the keeper who fumbled allowing the ball to trickle over the line to draw things level.
The match came to an end with the scores locked a one a piece and the crowd were in for extra time.
Just five minutes into extra time Atherton were asked to come from behind again as Daniel Ferrero put Douglas ahead.
Atherton fought gallantly to the end but it was Douglas who ran our winners of the FNQ Football 2019 grand final 2-1 in the men’s second division.
