Narrabri Elevens kick off their season with a win

The new Namoi Soccer League season got underway on Saturday afternoon and local club Narrabri Eleven FC got off to a flying start with a 3-0 victory on home soil.

The Elevens welcomed Moree Blue to Gately Field and the two sides were locked at nil-all at half-time before the hosts kicked on in fine fashion during the second stanza to net three unanswered goals.

Callum Wales opened his new club’s 2024 season account 10 minutes into the second half with a powerful strike from just inside the 18-yard box, and captain Jesse Weekes doubled their advantage soon after when he got onto the end of an Ollie Stait corner kick and headed the ball into the back of the net.

Wales made it 3-0 with about 15 minutes left to play when he charged onto a Stait through ball and slotted his one-on-one shot into the bottom left corner to double his own total, and that was the way the score stayed as the Narrabri side secured the first win of the season.

The Elevens have a new coach in 2024, with one of their new recruits Zac Stait putting his hand up for the role this season.

The talented 18-year-old lives and breathes soccer and has been a first grade regular since he broke into the Narrabri FC starting lineup back in 2021 as a 15-year-old following a sensational debut at the Johnson Cup that year. He played two seasons at Narrabri FC before lining up for Wee Waa United last year and being one of that club’s standouts, but he has returned home for a season in purple.

Stait told The Courier that he was enjoying being a part of the Elevens club and he was happy with the way his side performed in round one.

“We’re keen as that the season’s started. We had about six weeks of pre-season all up,” Stait said.

“It’s been good here. Everyone is laid back and it’s a good environment.

“We got off to a bit of a slow start on Saturday. It was a nil-all first half and it took us a while to find our feet.

“The second half was much better. Our passing was a lot smoother and our combinations started coming together.

“It was good to keep a clean sheet.”

The Namoi League competition has a different look this season, with an abundance of players who competed in the competition across the past few seasons now playing for Namoi United alongside the Tamworth and Armidale clubs in the Northern Inland Premier League competition.

The Namoi competition last year featured four teams in both first and reserve grade, however the first grade division was going to be reduced to just three teams in 2024 following Inverell’s decision to try their luck in the NIPL. That prompted Narrabri FC, Wee Waa United and Moree Services FC to combine to form Namoi United.

The Namoi Soccer League is now a one division competition with five teams. The Elevens, Narrabri FC and Wee Waa United all have a team each and Moree have two teams, which are Moree Blue and Moree Yellow.

Games are still 90 minutes in length, but they are nine-a-side fixtures as opposed to the standard 11-a-side.

The Elevens will meet Moree Yellow at the Moree Services Club field this Saturday in round two from 3pm after Narrabri FC challenge Moree Blue at the same venue.

Narrabri FC had the bye in the first round last Saturday, while Wee Waa and Moree Yellow are also yet to play after Wee Waa forfeited against the Moree outfit in round one.

Wee Waa United will have to wait until round three for their first game as they sit out with the bye this Saturday.

****

In other soccer news, Namoi United lost in both grades in round three of the Northern Inland Premier League season on Saturday.

They hosted Inverell FC in Moree and the visitors won 7-1 in reserve grade and 4-1 in first grade.

Nathan Hamblin scored the Namoi United reserve grade side’s goal and Cooper Brayshaw netted from the penalty spot in first grade.

Both teams are on one point after a bye, a draw and a loss.

They will now contest a run of four consecutive home matches at Hogan Oval from round four.

This Saturday’s action will see them come up against Tamworth FC.