An 87th-minute Jake Brayshaw strike saw Narrabri FC claim a 3-2 victory and climb their way back into first place on the 2023 Namoi Premier League first grade table on Saturday afternoon.
The Narrabri side hosted Inverell FC in a round 14 top-of-the-table clash at Hogan Oval, where the visitors had a chance to secure a second straight minor premiership. They went into the game ranked first on 28 points, one clear of Narrabri, and would have taken an unassailable lead at the top had they earned the three points.
However, a Narrabri comeback saw the hosts finish the weekend on 30 points with a game to go. They will take on Wee Waa United FC at Hogan Oval this Saturday, where a victory would guarantee them their sixth first-place finish in seven seasons.
They could still win the 2023 minor premiership with a draw or even a loss, but with Inverell at home to the last-placed Moree Services FC, three points is what it will likely take for the Narrabri men to finish on top.
The boys in blue took the lead in the first half of the round 14 clash on home soil on Saturday when Colby Williams pounced on a loose ball to make the score 1-0. The returning Cooper Brayshaw had a hand in that goal as he played a pass in behind the Inverell defence for the side’s centre-back Nathan Trindall to run onto. The goalkeeper blocked his shot, but Williams was ready to tap in the rebound, and he made no mistake.
Narrabri FC took that 1-0 lead into the half-time break, but the visitors fired themselves out in front early in the second half with quick goals to Andrew Saru and Don Kiri to make the score 2-1.
After setting up the first goal in his first game back from holidays, Cooper Brayshaw then scored the goal that got his side back to 2-all. He ran onto a Vincent Labonte pass over the top of the Inverell defence and creatively chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the top right corner from just outside the 18-yard box.
There were just three minutes left to play in regulation time when the home side scored the winner. Rhys Hayne picked up the ball on the right edge and spotted Jake Brayshaw available on the left, and picked him out with a superb pass. Brayshaw’s shot took a deflection but made its way into the back of the net, and the hosts then defended their 3-2 lead to claim the three points.
The other round 14 contest was a minor semi-final preview as Wee Waa United took on Moree Services FC.
Those two teams cannot finish in the top half of the table in 2023, but Wee Waa showed they would be a danger come finals time when it defeated the hosts 3-0 in Moree.
Wee Waa went into halftime with a 1-0 lead after Nathan Hamblin scored the only goal of the first 45 minutes, and then Zac Stait and Juan Pablo Balbi netted in the second stanza as the away side returned home with the three points.
Wee Waa moved to 22 points after winning their seventh game of the year but are two wins behind Inverell (28) with just one game to go.
The two top-ranked reserve grade sides were both victorious in round 14 on Saturday.
At Hogan Oval, Narrabri FC earned a 1-0 victory in a hard-fought match against a much-improved Narrabri Eleven FC outfit. Victor Matuku scored the only goal of the derby when he converted from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Jakeb Nipperess was fouled in the 18-yard box. The win was Narrabri FC’s 13th in 14 games as they moved to 40 points.
Twelve points behind on 28 are Moree Services FC following their 4-1 victory at home against Wee Waa on Saturday. Todd Jones bagged a first-half brace for his side and Tom Vanderstock also got on the scoresheet as the hosts went into the break ahead 3-0. Lucas Schembri scored less than a minute into the second stanza to make the score 4-0, and then Wee Waa’s Jacob Hopman pulled one back to make the final score 4-1.
Narrabri FC host Wee Waa United in both grades this Saturday, while Inverell FC host Moree in first grade that same day and then the Elevens travel to Moree in reserve grade on Sunday.
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