Narrabri FC proved once again that it can mix it with the region’s biggest and best clubs when it produced an impressive performance in its first Australia Cup match in four years on Sunday.

However, it was not enough, as the local side came up short and was knocked out of the annual national tournament following a 4-2 defeat at the hands of South Armidale United FC.

Narrabri FC travelled to Armidale’s Doody Park for that match, where it played the team that it was beaten 6-1 by in the FFA Cup back in 2019.

It became clear in the early stages of Sunday’s game that it would not be such a one-sided contest this year.

Narrabri FC survived an early scare when the home side looked certain to open the scoring in the second minute, only for centre back Jess O’Neil to clear a goal-bound shot off the line.

The visitors regrouped and began to create chances of their own, the best coming in the 19th minute when a Colby Williams cross from the right edge found Tom Holland unmarked at the back stick, but the left winger’s volley flew just wide of the left post.

The game was turned on its head on the half-hour mark when Narrabri FC was reduced to 10 men after O’Neil received a second yellow card.

The Narrabri men rallied and they quickly figured out a structure to play to going forward in the game, however, they suffered a blow on the 40-minute mark when a through ball put South Armidale United’s Sam Hynes away one-on-one with Zaac Brayshaw, and he found the bottom left corner to make the score 1-0.

That became 2-0 four minutes later when Hynes scored a second, again finding the bottom left corner from close range after Narrabri FC failed to clear a loose ball from its 18-yard box.

The visitors went into the half-time break behind by two goals, a deficit that was extended to three just three minutes into the second half when the hosts found the back of the net again with a shot from close range that bounced in off the right post.

However, Narrabri FC was not going to go down without a fight and almost went ahead on the 50-minute mark when a Bailey Campbell shot beat the home side’s goalkeeper but was cleared off the line.

The ball rolled away for a corner, which Cooper Brayshaw took, and he picked out tall centre back Nathan Trindall, who headed home a goal for Narrabri FC to make the score 3-1.

South Armidale United FC restored its three-goal advantage in the 63rd minute when a corner was volleyed into the back of the net, making the score 4-1.

That was the way it would remain until the 89th minute when Cooper Brayshaw scored the goal of the game to pull one back for the visitors. The centre midfielder received a pass five meters inside his own half and beat two South Armidale United FC defenders during a brilliant run towards goal. He charged into the box and drove the ball past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make the score 4-2.

Narrabri FC pushed hard for a third goal in stoppage time but could not crack the opposition defence again as the hosts won the match to advance to the next round.

Narrabri FC’s first grade coach Neil Brayshaw told The Courier that he was proud of his men for their efforts on the day.

He thought his side was well and truly in the game until it went down to 10 men, and he labelled that as the major turning point in the match.

He was impressed with the way his players fought until the final whistle on a warm day when they were outnumbered for an hour.

Narrabri FC will continue its pre-season training this week.

The club was scheduled to welcome Tamworth club Oxley Vale Attunga to Narrabri for trial games in two grades this weekend, however, those have been rescheduled after OVA downed Bellingen Football Club 5-1 on the road on Sunday in the Australia Cup.

The Tamworth Club will now host Kempsey Saints Football Club in the next round, which will be played this weekend.

Narrabri FC also has its sights set on the Johnson Cup pre-season tournament in Tamworth, which is expected to be held in Tamworth on Saturday, March 18.

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