The 15th and final round of the 2021 Namoi Soccer League regular season was played on Saturday when Narrabri FC continued its dominant first grade campaign.
The club completed an undefeated regular season when it scored its 15th consecutive win to finish with a maximum 45 points at the top of the
ladder.
Away from home against Moree, Narrabri FC dominated from start to finish and ran away with an 8-0 victory after scoring four goals either side of half-time.
Colby Williams broke the deadlock early in the contest with a cracking strike into the top right corner after running onto a pin-point Cooper Brayshaw back-heeled pass just inside the 18-yard box.
Jake Brayshaw then made the score 2-0 with a shot into an empty net after the striker initially had a one-on-one shot saved by Moree’s goalkeeper Darrel Smith, but got to the loose ball first.
Rhys Hayne then scored the goal of the game to put his side ahead 3-0. Hayne was found roaming free in the centre of the park as his side attacked down the right edge, with right fullback Izaac Jeffries threading a perfect pass through traffic to the central midfielder’s feet. Hayne took a touch towards goal to settle himself before firing a strike into the top left corner from about 23 metres out.
Jake Brayshaw then scored his second goal of the game just before the break after running onto a through ball down the left edge and firing a strike into the bottom right corner to make the score 4-0 at half-time.
Narrabri FC then continued right where it left off in the second stanza.
It led 6-0 by the hour-mark after Williams fired two one-on-one strikes into the bottom right corner.
The side’s captain Cooper Brayshaw then scored two goals from outside the 18-yard box late in the game to make the final score 8-0.
Narrabri FC’s first grade coach Neil Brayshaw told The Courier that he was proud of his men and their achievements in the 2021 regular season and encouraged them to stay positive and fit during the NSW state-wide lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They’ve exceeded my expectations this season, going through undefeated,” Brayshaw said.
“It’s a credit to our whole squad and the whole club really.
“I honestly couldn’t ask for any more, I’m very pleased.
“I want the boys to stay positive and safe during the lockdown.
“Do a bit of your own work at home and exercise and we’ll get through this. Fingers crossed we can finish off a great season with one more game to go (the grand final).”
Narrabri FC has scored 17 goals while conceding just once across its round 14 and 15 matches to finish the regular season on a huge high heading into the decider, whenever it may be.
Williams and Cooper and Jake Brayshaw combined for 16 of those goals and that trio all finished the regular season on 15 goals each to sit alongside one another at the top of the competition’s golden boot tally.
Their coach said he was impressed with all three players’ efforts in front of goals this season.
“It’s just brilliant,” Neil Brayshaw said.
“It’s good that our goals aren’t just coming from one striker being so dominant, and it proves that we are a great side through the middle, out wide and up front.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more from those three as a coach and I’m very, very pleased that the golden boot has been shared amongst those three blokes, it’s thoroughly deserved.”
Brayshaw also praised his backline and goalkeepers who have combined to keep nine clean sheets while conceding just seven goals in 15 matches in 2021.
“You have to be able to score goals as a team but you have to be able to defend as well,” he said.
“The acquisition of Adam Pryor this year at the back is a big reason behind it. He’s a very good organiser next to Nathan (Trindall) and they have a great partnership back there.
“Then there’s Izaac (Jeffries) and Jess (O’Neil) out wide and everyone who’s come off the bench and done a job at the back, we have quality right across the backline.
“It helps the entire side. If we get beaten in the centre we have confidence in the blokes behind us.”
In the other first grade match played in round 15 on Saturday, Wee Waa United scored its fifth win in seven matches to head into the finals series with form on its side.
It defeated Eleven FC 4-1 at Narrabri’s Hogan Oval.
The visitors went into half-time ahead 2-0 after Bailey Organ and Nathan Hamblin netted in the first half.
Jay Hall extended Wee Waa’s lead to three goals with the first second half strike, before Elevens’ Bailey Campbell reduced the home team’s deficit to 3-1.
Hayden Shearin then scored the goal of the game to make the final score 4-1. Shearin drove a strike from outside the 18-yard box into the top right corner to make sure his side returned home with all three points.
In reserve grade, Moree Services FC downed Narrabri FC 2-1 and Elevens FC beat Wee Waa United 3-2.
All eyes are now on the 2021 finals series.
The preliminary finals will be contested at Cook Oval in Wee Waa where host club Wee Waa United FC will go head-to-head with Moree Services FC in first grade and Narrabri FC in reserve grade.
Those matches were scheduled to be played this Saturday, however, they have been rescheduled amid the current NSW state-wide lockdown.
NNSWF advised that the preliminary finals could be played on Sunday afternoon if the lockdown finishes that morning.
The winners of the preliminary final matches will progress to grand final day at Hogan Oval where minor premiers Narrabri FC (first grade) and Moree Services FC (reserve grade) will play against their respective competitions’ preliminary final winners.
It is hoped that the grand finals will still be played as scheduled on Saturday, August 28.
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