Inverell FC has retaken top spot on the Namoi Soccer League first grade ladder with just five rounds left to play following a round 10 victory on home soil on Saturday.
Inverell hosted Wee Waa United FC in a highly-anticipated clash in which first place was on the line, and it got the job done as it prevailed 2-0.
The hosts led 1-0 at half-time after the competition’s leading goal-scorer Andrew Saru netted the only goal of the opening 45-minutes, before the reserve grade competition’s second top goal-scorer Don Kiri, who started the first grade match off the bench, scored the only goal of the second half.
Inverell FC entered Saturday’s game having led the Namoi competition at the completion of the previous five rounds. However, its match against Wee Waa United was pushed back a week, and that allowed Narrabri FC to temporarily move into top spot following a 16-1 win against the last-placed side Narrabri Eleven FC on Saturday, July 9.
But Inverell’s eighth win of the year saw it retain top spot on the ladder for a sixth consecutive round as it moved two points clear of Narrabri FC and four points ahead of third-placed Wee Waa.
The leaders are now on 24 points following eight wins and two losses, while Narrabri FC has accumulated 22 points following seven wins, one draw and two losses, and Wee Waa is on 20 points following six wins, two draws and two losses.
Despite now sitting four points from the top, Wee Waa still boasts the best defensive record in the competition. It has only let in 11 goals compared to Inverell’s 14 and Narrabri FC’s 16.
Inverell can make more ground on at least one of the two sides below it with a win this Saturday in round 11 when it travels to Geoff Morgan Fields to take on fourth-placed Gunnedah before Narrabri FC and Wee Waa play against each other at Hogan Oval that night.
Gunnedah FC is playing for its own finals hopes, as a loss could see it fall two wins outside the top three with just four games left.
The other round 11 match will see Narrabri Eleven FC host fifth-placed side Moree Services FC at Hogan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Inverell continued its dominant reserve grade run in round 10 on Saturday when it prevailed 5-0 at home against Wee Waa.
The hosts led 1-0 at the half-time break before piling on four more goals in the second stanza.
Inverell is first on a maximum 30 points in reserve grade following 10 wins from as many matches, while Wee Waa remained in third place on the ladder on 13 points, six behind the second-placed Moree and just two ahead of fourth-placed Gunnedah FC and fifth-placed Narrabri FC.
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