DARING TO DREAM: Narrabri Eleven FC eyeing off grand final spot

Narrabri Eleven FC will play for a spot in the 2023 Namoi Premier League reserve grade decider this Saturday when they take on Moree Services FC at Hogan Oval.

The Elevens finished at the bottom of the ladder this year following one win, two draws and 12 losses, but they showed glimpses of brilliance during the season, especially when they were at full strength.

With everyone on deck in the minor semi-final at Cook Oval on Saturday, they were able to beat Wee Waa 3-0 to progress to week two of the finals series.

The Elevens opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Jonty Schwager tackled a Wee Waa defender and then charged down the right edge almost all the way to the goal line before he found the bottom left corner with a tidy strike from a tight angle.

The away side took that 1-0 lead into half-time and then came out firing in the second stanza when Ciaran McCann charged onto a long Guy Gleeson throw in the 18-yard box and drove home a powerful volley to score his first goal for the club.

There was a 10-minute break during the half after Wee Waa’s Mark Rottger suffered a broken ankle, and then the Elevens scored five minutes after play restarted when Tashanny Clark picked out Schwager in the box with a classy cross from the left sideline, and his deflected shot fell to Gleeson who volleyed the follow-up strike into the back of the net.

That was the final goal of the game as full-time was blown 90 seconds later.

The Elevens’ coach Tim Hayne said that he was thrilled with the way his side played on Saturday and with the way they have developed during the back-end of the campaign.

“I’m over the moon,” he said.

“They’re developing really quickly towards the end of the year.

“There’s heaps of belief and they’re all talking about going further than Moree.

“Positionally, we were very good.

“Our width was really good too.

“We still have the finishing problem that we have had all year, but we’re starting to sort it out.”

If the Elevens do get past Moree this Saturday, a Narrabri derby against the minor premiers Narrabri FC awaits them in the grand final on Saturday, September 9, in Inverell.

Meanwhile, the first grade game this Saturday will see Narrabri FC host Wee Waa United FC at Hogan Oval.