Wee Waa United FC and Inverell FC contest high-scoring draw at Cook Oval

Wee Waa United FC’s first grade side stretched its on-field unbeaten run to three matches in the 2023 Namoi Premier League season on Saturday when it drew 3-all with Inverell FC at Cook Oval.

The Wee Waa side finally played a game on home soil after its first three matches were scheduled away games, two of which it won after forfeiting the round one road trip to Inverell.

Inverell made the trip to Wee Waa for the round four game and it was the hosts that started the better of the two teams as Kallan Marchant scored first and then David Avery, who was the captain-coach of the Wee Waa side on the day in the absence of Ben Cooper, found the back of the net for the home side’s second to make the score 2-0.

Inverell FC struck back to make the score 2-1, however Ollie Stait scored his second goal in his third game for the club to restore the two-goal lead.

The hosts went into the break ahead 3-1, but the away side hit back with two goals in the second stanza and the match finished 3-all.

Avery told The Courier that he was quite pleased with his team’s first half effort.

“We played pretty well in the first half, but we fell asleep in the second half and they come back,” he said.

“In that first half, we were good. We kept the ball and played our game of soccer. We stayed really structural.

“But we just sort of lost that in the second half.”

Avery identified wide fullbacks Alex Lucero and Lachlan Ford as the side’s two standouts on the day. He said that Inverell threatened down the flanks all day, but Lucero and Ford were up to the challenge defensively.

He also said players’ player Matt Hamblin and the opposition coach’s player Ollie Stait were both brilliant on the day.

The stand-in captain-coach said that he and his teammates were pleased to finally play a home game in 2023, and added that the side was playing well so far this season.

“It was nice to finally be home, and a good crowd turned up too, which was good,” Avery said.

“There was a lot of support from the community, which was nice to see.

“We’re going alright so far. We are sitting pretty well.

“We just have to keep practising and get fitter.

“But I’m really happy with where we are at the minute.”

The draw saw Wee Waa United FC remain in third place and Inverell FC stay in second. They are both on seven points, but the Inverell side is ahead on goal difference. They are two points behind top-ranked side Narrabri FC after it beat Moree Services FC 3-0 away from home in round four.

Earlier in the day, Wee Waa’s reserve grade side also played its first home game of the campaign. It took on Narrabri Eleven FC and the match finished goalless.

Wee Waa United FC will return to Cook Oval this Saturday when it takes on Moree Services FC in both grades.

Ben Cooper and Ibrahim Sultani will both return for the first grade team, and Avery said the side should be full strength.