Narrabri FC extends lead to 12 points at the top of the table

Four-time Namoi Soccer League minor premiers Narrabri FC look set to claim their fifth consecutive first-place finish after moving 12 points clear of second-placed Wee Waa United with eight games to play.

The two clubs met in a top-of-the-table round seven first grade clash at Cook Oval on Saturday which the ladder leaders won 3-1.

Undefeated Narrabri FC finished the round on a maximum 21 points after winning its seventh match in a row, while Wee Waa remained second on nine points.

The match was initially scheduled to be played at Hogan Oval but was moved to Wee Waa’s home field after the Narrabri pitch was too wet following last week’s rain.

The defending champions trialled a new formation, with coach Neil Brayshaw switching from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

The change had an immediate effect as the visitors netted in the second minute when Tom Holland ran onto a Colby Williams cross from the right sideline, took a touch past a Wee Waa defender and fired a shot into the bottom right corner from just inside the 18-yard box.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Callum McPhee sent a thunderous shot into the goal off the underside of the crossbar after dipping the ball over Wee Waa goalkeeper Steve Phelps.

Narrabri FC went into half-time leading 2-0 which became 3-0 in the 71st minute when Blake Jarrett ran onto a perfect Cooper Brayshaw cross and scored from inside the six yard box.

Wee Waa refused to give up and was rewarded in the 88th minute when Dean Hamblin ran onto a through ball and netted for the hosts.

In the other first grade game, third-placed Moree Services FC won 4-1 against last-placed Elevens FC.

The competition’s leading goal-scorer Matt Urquhart netted his second hat-trick in three weeks to guide his side to victory in Moree.

Elevens FC’s Riley Longworth scored the Narrabri team’s lone goal during the second half.

The round seven reserve grade games were won by Narrabri FC, which downed Wee Waa 2-1, and Moree, which scored a big win against the Elevens.

In the reserve grade game at Cook Oval, Narrabri FC hit the lead midway through the first half when George Bennett netted a one-on-one strike. He slotted a classy finish into the bottom right hand corner to make the score 1-0.

However, the game’s next goal was even better and in fact, was the best of the day including all four first grade goals.

It was scored by Dustyn Allen who ran onto a bouncing ball just outside the 18-yard box down the right edge of the field and volleyed a cracking strike over Narrabri FC goalkeeper Danny Laws which dipped into the bottom left corner.

It was a crafty finish by the youngster who saw the keeper off his line and made him pay.

Narrabri FC scored a late winner through Danny Anderson to take home all three points from what was an evenly-matched game.