Wee Waa wins instant classic

After 120 minutes, four regular time goals and one match-winning, extra time goal, Wee Waa United FC has been crowned the Namoi Soccer League premiers.

All grand finals are built up to be the greatest game of the year but not many live up to the hype.

However the 2019 Namoi Soccer League grand final between Narrabri FC and Wee Waa United FC was the most thrilling match of the entire season.

The sides went head to head with a vocal crowd at Hogan Oval cheering the entirity of the contest.

Narrabri FC came out of the gates strong as Rhys Hayne scored within the first 20 minutes of the game with a very composed finish.

Wee Waa answered soon after with a scrappy equaliser from AJ Swansbra.

The second half saw Wee Waa take a 2-1 lead.

An amazing counter-attack filled with speed and determination saw Swansbra score his second of the contest.

But the minor premiers would not go down, as Ben Stride scored a thumping header to lock the sides up at 2-all.

Both teams had several chances to take the lead deep into the second half but the match needed extra time.

Narrabri and Wee Waa remained level for the first 15 minute extra time period but the match would be decided in the second extra time period.

David Avery stepped up for Wee Waa United and scored the most crucial goal of his career.

“I bloody punched the air and screamed my head off,” said Wee Waa United FC captain and goalkeeper Steve Phelps about Avery’s match-winning goal.

“It was huge, watching him run through, my feet were just frozen.

“I couldn’t do anything obviously but it was unreal.

“My heart was beating out of my chest.

“It was faultless.”

Phelps had an arguably man-of-the-match performance between the sticks and saved his side in the crucial moments.

The win was the first grand final victory of any kind for Wee Waa since 2006.

Narrabri’s loss was its first all season after winning the minor premiership without dropping any points.

The side ran through the competition undefeated but fell at the final hurdle as Wee Waa halted Narrabri’s season-long dominance.

Wee Waa United FC captain Steve Phelps was full of praise for Narrabri FC and commended the side on its incredible year.

“On behalf of Wee Waa United I’d like to pass on a huge congratulations to Narrabri FC,” he said.

“They are an incredible side and have had a phenomenal season.

“They are thoroughly deserving of all the praise they have received this year and should hold their heads up high.

“I personally enjoy every single second of every match we play against each other and I just wanted to thank them for making this competition what it is today.”

The epic grand final contest at Hogan Oval between Narrabri and Wee Waa kicked off with the visitors trying to surprise the hosts with a rapid start.

United earned the first corner of the contest and had the first shot on target but Narrabri goalkeeper Zaac Brayshaw was up to the task.

Narrabri sought some relief from the early onslaught and incredible pressure from Wee Waa and that came in the form of Connor Hill who produced Narrabri’s first shot on target.

But the always reliable Phelps was able to parry the shot away from goal with a very good save.

But just 15 minutes in Rhys Hayne broke the deadlock.

Hayne broke the Wee Waa defence with blistering pace and was able to place his shot between the legs of Phelps who had come charging out.

Hayne celebrated the 1-nil by jumping the fence and hugging a couple of Narrabri fans that were cheering him on.

But instead of dropping their heads, United lifted their game.

The visitors were able to force a few mistakes out of the consistent Narrabri and eventually Wee Waa had its equaliser.

Wee Waa’s top scorer AJ Swansbra stepped up for the travelling side and scored a scrappy, but much needed goal.

The goal all began with Nathan Hamblin who made a magnificent run down the left-hand touchline.

Nathan Hamblin then cut inside before it looked like he was fouled inside the penalty box.

But as the tackle was made and Nathan Hamblin cut the ball back to Swansbra who reacted fast to the bouncing ball and scored to lock the scores a 1-all.

An impressive shot from Cooper Brayshaw was the last highlight of the first half but the talented midfielder’s attempt was matched by a terrific save from Phelps.

The second half began as the first half ended with a Cooper Brayshaw shot being denied by the strong left palm of Phelps.

But on the 55th minute mark the most crucial of all of Phelps’ stops created a quite magnificent counter-attack.

Nathan Hamblin sprinted down the entirity of the left wing before once again cutting the ball back to Swansbra.

Swansbra this time had to beat two defenders and the goalkeeper to score but his quick feet and slick finish put his side 2-1 up.

Fifteen minutes after Wee Waa had taken the lead Jake Brayshaw should have put the hosts back on level terms.

The striker hit the ball with wicked pace towards the bottom right corner but Phelps reacted to the shot with amazing speed, dropping down to his left and pushing the ball out for a corner.

Narrabri pushed for an equaliser and with just 15 minutes left in regular time the home side had its goal.

The referee overruled his assistant to grant FC a corner and the home side took full advantage.

Cooper Brayshaw whipped the cross in with venom and it found the head of Ben Stride who thumped his header home.

Strides’ first goal of the 2019 campaign could not have come at a more crucial time for his side as it put the hosts back on level terms at 2-all.

The final 15 minutes saw both sides come close to the match winner however it finished 2-all at the end of regulation time.

The match required an extra 30 minutes of game time to separate the two sides.

The first period of extra time saw just one huge chance and that chance fell to Cooper Brayshaw.

But the midfielder could not score, skying his shot over the bar.

The first extra time period faded away but in the second period a quick counter attack saw United use its incredible pace in the 113th minute.

The counter attack ended with David Avery scoring the most important goal of his career and the most crucial goal in the modern era of Wee Waa United FC as he put the ball past Narrabri’s shot stopper and sprinted off in celebration.

Phelps calmed his troops down as there was still seven minutes remaining in the match.

But the Wee Waa side remained strong, holding its defence right until the final whistle, winning the contest 3-2.

The final touch fittingly came from the hands of Phelps who kicked the ball away and ran towards the rest of his team.

“As the match got closer and closer to full time and deep into extra time I didn’t see one of the players heads drop,” said Phelps.

“Only injury took players off and that’s a credit to them for playing so incredibly hard.

“The determination was just incredible.”

Phelps said that the win meant a lot to his side but it was so special for the town as well.

“The photo of the last grand final win was from 2006,” he said.

“The talking point at the pub on Friday night was that we needed to update that picture haha.

“Soccer is the only sport left in the town that plays at home, we have cricket but it plays in Narrabri.

“It’s rough times in towns all around but we’ve had more and more supporters turning up over the last few years.

“The support at the grand final shows that.

“It really is great for the town and we all really enjoyed it.”

Narrabri FC will now rest up and look forward to the 2020 Namoi Soccer League season.