Wee Waa United continued what has been a successful 2022 pre-season on Saturday with a reserve grade victory away from home against Narrabri FC at Hogan Oval.
Wee Waa outscored the hosts 2-1 in what was a close contest between the two Namoi Soccer League Clubs as they continue preparations for the coming season, which is scheduled to begin on April 30.
The match was played across two 40-minute halves on Saturday, which both included drinks breaks at the 20-minute marks.
The two goalkeepers were required to make saves in the opening quarter of an hour and both were up to the task as the score remained 0-0.
However, Wee Waa struck first when it went the length of the field to score in the 18th minute. Bailey Organ got to a loose ball first after goalkeeper Darren Organ sent a goal kick upfield. He chested the ball into the path of Jacob Hopman who outmuscled and went past a Narrabri FC defender before charging towards goal and firing a shot from just inside the 18-yard box past the home side’s goalkeeper Beau Tomlinson and into the back of the net.
Narrabri FC came out firing straight after the drinks break and equalised through George Bennett, who made the score 1-all in the 23rd minute with a strike from close range after running onto a through ball.
The two sides ended the first half with chances to take the lead but a Matt Edmonds strike from just outside the 18-yard box flew just over the crossbar before Tomlinson made a great save to deny a powerful Axel Currey strike at the other end as the sides went into the break at 1-all.
That deadlock was finally broken 10 minutes into the second stanza when Darren Organ, who made the switch from keeper to the outfield at half-time, brought the crowd to its feet with a long-range strike from 45 metres out that curled and dipped over Tomlinson and into the back of the net.
Wee Waa’s defence kept the home side’s attack quiet in the second stanza until the 63rd minute when Oli Stait almost equalised for the hosts.
Left-footed Vincent Labronde sent an in-swinging free kick from the right into the box, which was punched out by Wee Waa goalkeeper Andy Kiely. The ball fell to Stait who fired a shot just over the bar from 15 metres out.
That was the hosts’ best chance of the half as the visitors defended well and took home a 2-1 win.
Wee Waa United’s reserve grade side will return to Narrabri on Saturday, April 23, for its final trial match of the pre-season when it takes on Narrabri Eleven FC at Hogan Oval.
The club’s first grade team played a trial game against Moree on Saturday, March 12, but will not play again until the 2022 season kicks off.
Narrabri FC’s first grade side travelled to Gunnedah on Sunday and defeated the hosts 7-4 in a high-scoring contest.
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