Wee Waa United FC ends Narrabri FC’s first grade unbeaten run in round three

Narrabri FC’s undefeated start to the 2023 Namoi Premier League season came to an end on Thursday night when the ladder leaders were beaten 3-2 on home soil at Hogan Oval by Wee Waa United FC.

The local rivals met for the first time this season in the round three match, which was played during the week as opposed to Saturday to allow Narrabri FC the chance to man the gate at the Narrabri Show.

The home side went into the night undefeated in both divisions, having picked up six points in both first and reserve grade across the opening two rounds.

However, Wee Waa ended that run with a win in the main game to join Narrabri FC on six points.

The away side opened the scoring midway through the first half of the first grade fixture and it was Nathan Hamblin who netted his first goal of the season following some brilliant lead up play and an assist from the side’s captain-coach Ben Cooper.

Hamblin struck again soon after as Wee Waa established a two-goal lead that it took into the break.

The hosts found themselves behind by three goals about 20 minutes into the second half when Hamblin netted his third goal, again after being the recipient of a Cooper assist.

Despite that hat-trick, Narrabri FC was down but was certainly not out.

Colby Williams pulled one back for the hosts when he charged between Wee Waa’s two central defenders onto a Cooper Brayshaw through ball and scored with a left-footed chip shot from close range. The Narrabri FC striker then made the score 3-2 with his second goal of the game when he reacted quickest after a Brayshaw free-kick deflected off the Wee Waa United wall.

Narrabri FC pushed hard to find an equaliser in the final 10 minutes of the match, but the Wee Waa defence held strong and the visitors earned a 3-2 victory.

The win was Wee Waa’s United FC’s second in a row following a round one forfeit against Inverell FC.

Inverell went down in round two against Narrabri FC, but bounced back in round three with a 5-0 win against Moree Services FC.

The Narrabri, Inverell and Wee Waa sides have all accumulated six points each so far this season and Moree is stuck at the bottom of the ladder on no points.

Narrabri FC is ranked first as it boasts a superior for and against goal difference, while Inverell FC is second and Wee Waa is third.

In second grade, ladder leaders Narrabri FC continued its unbeaten run when it downed Wee Waa United FC 4-0 at Hogan Oval last Thursday.

The two sides went into the break locked at nil-all following a scoreless first half, and Jorian Fleming opened the scoring for Narrabri FC during the second stanza.

His goal opened the floodgates and it was soon 2-0 after Ben Stride scored his second goal of the season when he got onto the end of a brilliant Rhys Bower corner.

One of the club’s newest players Victor Matuku had impressed in his first two games in Narrabri colours without finding the back of the net, but there was a sense that the goals were coming for the striker.

And that they did as he bagged a late double to make the final score 4-0.

That win saw Narrabri FC finish round three on top of the table with nine points, having scored eight goals and kept three clean sheets.

The Narrabri side is three points clear of fellow round three winners Moree Services, which beat Narrabri Elevens FC 2-1 in Moree on Sunday.

Matt Hayne opened the scoring for the Elevens when he got on the end of a Guy Gleeson long throw in, but two Moree goals in the second stanza saw the hosts earn a one-goal win.

Round four will see Wee Waa United FC play its first home fixtures of the year at Cook Oval when the club hosts Inverell FC in first grade and Narrabri Elevens FC in reserve grade.

The other fixtures will be played in Moree on Saturday when Narrabri FC travels to challenge Moree Services FC.