Namoi United fight back from half-time deficit to score first win of the NIPL season

Namoi United made a breakthrough on Saturday in round five of the 2024 Northern Inland Premier League first grade competition when they scored their first win of the season.

Coach Neil Brayshaw was able to name his strongest side so far this year in the round five game and they got the job done in gritty fashion on home soil at Hogan Oval where they defeated Hillvue Rovers FC 2-1.

The match was the combined Wee Waa/Narrabri/Moree side’s fourth so far following a round one bye, a draw in their first game in round two, and back-to-back losses in rounds three and four.

It was a wet and muddy contest that saw both sides attempt to play the ball around the slippery cricket pitch. Their attacking intent became quite clear immediately as the goalkeepers both got their hands on the ball in the opening 90 seconds.

The hosts dominated the opening 10 minutes but were unable to really test Hillvue’s goalkeeper, and the Rovers made them pay in the 11th minute as they found the back of the net after an exchange of short passes outside the 18-yard box saw Namoi United lose track of an attacker who got free and fired a one-on-one strike past Zaac Brayshaw and into the bottom right corner.

Namoi went on to have the bulk of the possession and field position for the remainder of the first half but they were unable to equalise and went into the break down 1-0.

After winning 14 corners in that first half and failing to create one shot on target from them, urgency and intent in the attacking third was the key to getting the home side back level. They found that three minutes into the second half when Nathan Trindall spotted a Jake Brayshaw run down the left edge and played the ball in his path before the wing back’s pin-point cross was guided into the bottom right corner by David Avery.

The hosts produced the play of the game in the 75th minute to take the lead and it was Nathan Hamblin who found the back of the net. Namoi won a throw-in deep in the defensive half on the left and kept possession with a string of passes between the midfield and backline before going out to the right side. With the Rovers stretched as a result of the switch, the home side pounced as Hamblin made a pass upfield and charged 40 metres into the box onto a Ray Nixon pass and found the bottom left corner with a sliding shot to make the score 2-1.

There were 14 passes in the play all up, and it was certainly a goal worthy of being the match-winner.

There were some nervous moments late in the game for Namoi United as Hillvue attempted to get a goal back, one in particular with less than two minutes remaining when a headed shot from a corner kick went just wide of the post and crashed into the side netting, but the home side held on to secure all three points as they scored their first win of the season.

Namoi United’s first grade coach Neil Brayshaw told The Courier that he was thrilled with the result and he was impressed with their second-half performance in particular.

“I’m stoked to be honest,” Brayshaw said.

“That win’s been coming and we were disappointed last week with a close 2-1 loss (in round four).

“The way we played (in round five), especially in the second half, it was really good.

“It was a gutsy and gritty win because it was wet and muddy, and we tried to play around the cricket pitch because it was all mud.

“That goal of Nathan Hamblin’s was all teamwork. It was great execution.

“We’re improving and you can see that when we’ve got a full squad there, we’re showing a bit of promise.

“But once again, we let an easy goal in early. We just always seem to be chasing the game. That’s something we need to switch on to.

“I think our two halves were chalk and cheese. In the second half, we were so much more composed, and our passing was much better.

“We’re still building and it’s the first time we’ve had a full squad this year. If that’s what they’re showing already, we’re only going to get better.”

The other first grade games in round five on Saturday were won by Inverell FC, Armidale City Westside FC, South Armidale United FC and Moore Creek FC, and there was also one draw. The drawn contest saw Demon Knights FC and North Companions FC finish all square at 1-all. Inverell beat Oxley Vale Attunga FC 4-1, Armidale City Westside defeated South United FC 1-0, South Armidale downed East Armidale United FC 7-0, and Moore Creek prevailed 4-0 over Norths United FC.

In reserve grade, Namoi United and Hillvue were locked at 1-all at the half-time break and that was the way the contest finished as both teams picked up their second point of the year. Kallan Marchant was Namoi’s goal-scorer.

In the other reserve grade matches, Armidale City Westside beat South United 3-0, Demon Knights outscored North Companions 5-1, Inverell beat OVA 2-1, South Armidale edged out East Armidale 1-0, and Moore Creek defeated Norths 2-0.

Namoi United will return to Hogan Oval this Saturday where they will challenge East Armidale United in both grades in round six.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Namoi Soccer League season continued on Friday and Saturday with two round three matches contested.

Wee Waa played for the first time this year after forfeiting their round one match and sitting out with a bye in round two. They took on Moree Blue on Friday night under lights at Hogan Oval and went down 9-0. The other game was a Narrabri derby as Narrabri Eleven FC and Narrabri FC went head-to-head for the first time this year at Gately Field. The Elevens won that match 12-0.

Both Narrabri teams will be at home this Saturday at Gately Field. Wee Waa will meet the unbeaten Elevens while Narrabri FC take on Moree Yellow.