Namoi United’s finals hopes hanging by a thread following loss against OVA

Namoi United’s Northern Inland Premier League first grade finals hopes were dealt a major blow on Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 loss on home soil against Oxley Vale Attunga.

The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree outfit welcomed the reigning minor premiers to Hogan Oval for the second time this season and they were looking to go one better after the two sides drew 2-all back in round 11 in June.

It was another close contest in the round 17 rematch, but a 34th-minute Riley Russell strike was the difference in the end as Namoi United failed to find the back of the net.

The loss was the Namoi side’s eighth of the campaign and the fifth of those in which they have been defeated by a one-goal margin.

It saw them remain in fifth place on the seven-team Southern Conference ladder with 14 points. They trail fourth-placed Tamworth FC (21) by seven and third-placed North Companions (23) by nine, and both Namoi United and Tamworth FC have two games in hand on Northies.

Namoi United need to win all four of their games on the run home to have a chance of sneaking into third, and that starts with their double-header this weekend as they challenge South United in round 18 on Saturday and the Hillvue Rovers in a rescheduled round 15 clash on Sunday, both at Hogan Oval.

The Southern Conference’s minor premiership battle is also going down to the wire. OVA’s win against Namoi United and Moore Creek’s 3-2 victory over North Companions saw them both finish the weekend on 32 points following 10 wins, two draws and three losses each so far this season. Moore Creek is way out in front on for and against difference, and both sides have three games remaining as the battle for first place continues to entertain.

Tamworth FC had the round 17 bye and two other Southern Conference teams met as South United knocked off Hillvue Rovers 6-1. They are now both on 10 points.

The Northern Conference’s minor premiership race is also intriguing as three teams battle it out for first place. Two of those met in Armidale on Saturday and it was the visitors who got the job done as Inverell downed top-ranked Armidale City Westside 2-1 to remain in second place. They are now just two points behind Westside (35) with a game in hand, and they are level on 33 points with Demon Knights after DK cruised past the fifth-placed Norths United 5-0 to remain in the hunt for the top spot.

The other round 17 Northern Conference battle saw the fourth-placed South Armidale United outscore the winless East Armidale United 7-1.

South Armidale United, Norths and East Armidale United are all out of finals contention.

In the reserve grade competition, Namoi United went down 2-0 against Oxley Vale Attunga on Saturday after the two sides were locked nil-all at half-time.

Namoi United are sixth on the seven-team ladder with 10 points, level with last-placed side South United ahead of their match-up this Saturday. The Namoi reserve grade team will also meet Hillvue Rovers on Sunday.