Narrabri FC books their spot in the Namoi Premier League grand final

Narrabri FC will have another crack at Inverell FC for the Namoi Premier League first grade premiership after the Narrabri side defeated Wee Waa United 3-2 in the preliminary final at Hogan Oval on Saturday.

The 2023 campaign grand final will be a rematch of last season’s decider when Inverell celebrated their debut year in the competition with a 3-1 victory against Narrabri at the Inverell Sporting Complex.

This year’s match will be played at the same venue after Inverell beat the minor premiers 1-0 in the major semi-final last month.

Narrabri FC responded brilliantly as they came out firing on Saturday and took the lead after just seven minutes when Colby Williams drove a first-time strike into the bottom left corner from just inside the 18-yard box after a miskicked Hayden Shearin clearance while attempting to thwart a Vincent Labonte pass rolled towards his own goal, and the Narrabri striker was quickest to pounce.

The home side then had the perfect opportunity to double their lead five minutes later when Shearin brought down Tom Holland in the 18-yard box and the referee pointed to the spot, but Wee Waa goalkeeper Steve Phelps superbly saved Williams’ penalty.

Wee Waa United levelled the score at 1-all in the 20th minute when Ray Nixon found the back of the net from a tight angle. His side won possession deep in their own half with desperate defending, and a long clearance that was lumped forward into the Narrabri half released Nathan Hamblin down the left edge after he turned Narrabri FC defender Adam Pryor. He then played the ball inside to Nixon, who went around goalkeeper Jakeb Nipperess and fired it past two retreating defenders.

Narrabri FC hit the lead again in the 38th minute when Jake Brayshaw struck a powerful shot across Phelps and into the back of the net off the right post. The left wing back got high up the pitch as the home side made an attack, and striker Connor Hill held the ball up well before releasing the lethal left-footer who made no mistake.

The hosts took that 2-1 lead into the half-time break and it was anyone’s game midway through the second stanza as neither side was able to make their mark during the first 25 minutes after play had restarted.

Cooper Brayshaw put the hosts ahead 3-1 in the 71st minute with a curling kick from the left sideline that flew over a crowd of players in the box and into the back of the net.

Nathan Hamblin pulled one back for the visitors late in the contest when he capitalised on a miscommunication between Narrabri FC’s centre-back Nathan Trindall and his goalkeeper Nipperess, getting in between them and scoring to make the score 3-2. There was less than a minute to go though and the hosts held on to win the contest.

Neil Brayshaw celebrated his 75th Namoi League victory as Narrabri FC’s coach on Saturday and was thrilled to have reached a sixth grand final during his sixth year in charge. He thought that both goals that his side conceded were avoidable mistakes but was proud of his men for getting the job done.

“I was really pleased. It was one of our best performances, I thought,” Brayshaw said.

“I think it could have been even more, but I think 3-1 would have been a true reflection of how it should have ended.

“The start of the game was really good. The boys came out of the sheds switched on, and the communication, the composure and our passing were really good.

“It was just a lack of concentration at the back to give them an easy goal at the end. Both of their goals were mistakes from us. I know every side makes mistakes, but we’ve really got to fix that up.

“Another grand final, though. I just couldn’t be any more proud. The guys have put in a lot of hard work. It’s been a tough season this year with injuries and suspensions and people away.

“We’ve grown as a side, I believe. Our composure is more settled these days and we’ve been playing to the end. It’s been great.”

Brayshaw said a pre-game speech delivered by one of the club’s former premiership-winning players Brenton Cochrane fired the side up and went a long way towards them getting the job done, and he thanked Cochrane for coming down to be a part of the day.

The preliminary final victory saw Narrabri FC qualify for grand final day for the seventh time in as many seasons.

The side won one of the five that were played after the 2021 decider was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and this weekend, they will play to be crowned champions for the first time since 2020 after their premiership defence came up short in the decider against Inverell last year.

They will go into the grand final game with everyone on deck except their goalkeeper and captain Zaac Brayshaw, who will serve the second of a two-game suspension after being sent off against Inverell in the major semi-final.