Namoi United still undefeated in NIPL first grade competition

Namoi United’s red-hot start to the Northern Inland Premier League first grade season continued on Saturday when they defeated Tamworth-based side Hillvue Rovers 3-2 at Narrabri’s Hogan Oval.

The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree team lined up for the third time this season in the competition’s fifth round and they extended their winning streak to three matches to finish the day on nine points in fourth place on the Southern Conference ladder.

Three of the four teams ahead of them have played five games already, with Namoi United missing out on their round two clash against Inverell in Moree due to a washout before sitting out with a bye in round three.

Despite being forced to wait three weeks between matches on both occasions since the season kicked off, the Namoi men have been able to shake off the rust and find some crucial early form as they head into a tough three-week period that sees them travel away for Armidale road trips either side of a round seven clash at home against early front-runners North Companions.

Saturday’s round five clash against Hillvue was Namoi United’s second battle against the Tamworth club already after they defeated them 5-1 away from home in round one back in March.

The Rovers were much better the second time round but the home side was able to get the job done in a much tighter tussle.

Namoi United went into half-time with a 1-0 lead after Matt Hamblin scored the only goal of the first half in the 35th minute, but the visitors responded eight minutes into the second stanza when Mitchell Sinclair found the back of the net.

Jake Brayshaw fired Namoi United back ahead when the winger made the score 2-1 in the 70th minute, but Sinclair added a second goal five minutes later to level the score again.

Brayshaw then completed his brace in the 80th minute to make the score 3-2, which was the way it remained when the full-time whistle sounded after the hosts defended desperately during the final 10 minutes.

Earlier in the day, Namoi United won for the first time in the reserve grade competition. The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree team was yet to score this year following 1-0 and 2-0 losses, but they bounced back in style to win 5-2.

It was 1-1 at half-time after Kallan Marchant’s first-minute strike was cancelled out by a 15th-minute goal from Hillvue, but Marchant added a second after the break while Nick Gorton fired home a hat-trick to guide the side to their first win.

Namoi United are away against East Armidale United in round six this Saturday. The Armidale club are undefeated in two games with four points in first grade but winless with no points in reserve grade.