Narrabri FC has finished runners-up in both of the Namoi Soccer League divisions in 2022 after going down away from home against Inverell FC in the first and reserve grade grand finals on Saturday.
Narrabri FC finished second in the regular season in both grades and met Inverell in both grand finals on the opposition’s home ground at the Inverell Sporting Complex.
Both games went to extra time, and it was the hosts that dug deepest to win 2-0 in reserve grade and then 3-1 in first grade.
In the reserve grade game, Narrabri FC became the first team in 2022 not to be beaten by Inverell FC after 60 minutes of play, as the score was locked at nil-all following the two 30-minute halves of regulation time.
However, it only took Inverell FC three-and-a-half minutes to find the back of the net in extra time when Don Kiri opened the scoring.
Kiri played a one-two with Peter Fuana and then charged into the box down the left edge before cutting inside and driving a powerful shot into the bottom left corner.
Less than two minutes later, Fuana doubled the home side’s lead with a classy free kick that he sent sailing over the Narrabri FC wall and into the top left corner. That was the final goal of the game as Inverell FC held on to win 2-0.
In the first grade grand final, the score was locked at nil-all at half-time despite both sides’ best efforts in the opening 45 minutes.
The best chance of that half came in the 26th minute when golden boot winner Andrew Saru ran onto a through ball in behind the Narrabri FC defence but had his one-on-one shot saved by Danny Laws.
Narrabri FC eventually took the lead 11 minutes into the second stanza when Cooper Brayshaw sent a free kick into the box, and his brother Jake Brayshaw headed it into the bottom left corner to make the score 1-0.
However, the hosts equalised eight minutes later when Saru ran onto a through ball and was fouled just outside the box, and Inverell FC skipper Sam Byrne stepped up and drove a shot just underneath the crossbar to make the score 1-all.
That was the way the score remained when the full-time whistle sounded, which sent the contest into extra time.
The first goal of the extra time period was scored by Don Kiri, who ran onto a cutback cross and buried a shot from close range to make the score 2-1.
Narrabri FC pushed hard for an equaliser but was unable to find it, and just seconds before the final whistle blew, Saru added the home side’s third goal of the contest after intercepting a misplaced pass in the 18-yard box and making no mistake from close range.
That was the final goal of the game as Inverell ran away with a 3-1 win.
Narrabri FC coaches Neil Brayshaw (first grade) and Ben Stride (reserve grade) told The Courier that while they were both disappointed with the two results on the day, they were both proud of their teams and added that if they stuck together and worked hard during next pre-season, Narrabri FC would be back bigger and better.
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