Injury time winner completes a thrilling comeback for unbeaten Namoi United

Namoi United are now two matches unbeaten in the 2025 Northern Inland Premier League first grade campaign after winning a seven-goal thriller in Narrabri on Saturday.

The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree club welcomed Tamworth FC to town for the round four clash and there were plenty of signs of rust in the first half following three weeks off due to a round two washout and a round three bye.

They went into the half-time break trailing the visitors 2-0 after Reagan Popplewell got in behind the defence twice late on, slotting a one-on-one strike in the 40th minute and scoring into an empty net in the 44th after intercepting an underhit backpass and rounding stranded goalkeeper Zaac Brayshaw.

Neil Brayshaw’s men regrouped at half-time and then found the form that saw them earn a 5-1 win away from home against Hillvue Rovers in the season opener as they outscored Tamworth FC four goals to one in the second stanza.

Namoi’s 2024 season golden boot winner Cooper Brayshaw pulled one back for the hosts 60 seconds after play had restarted when he controlled a loose ball and beat two defenders before firing a powerful strike from outside the 18-yard box that flew into the bottom-right corner.

The hosts equalised five minutes later with a classy goal after opening up the Tamworth defence with two switch passes in a matter of seconds that allowed Dean Hamblin to release Jake Brayshaw down the left edge. The winger picked out round one hat-trick hero Rodrigo Araujo in the box, and the striker beat a Tamworth defender before blasting a left-footed strike just under the crossbar.

Tamworth FC got themselves back in front just five minutes later when Semici Kaltack scored the goal of the game as he produced a moment of magic, unleashing a powerful strike from 25 yards out into the top-right corner, but Namoi United equalised 70 seconds after kicking off when Cooper Brayshaw curled a cross in behind the visitors’ defensive line and Aden Bridge beat the goalkeeper to the ball and slotted it into an empty net.

It was either side’s game to win at 3-all with half an hour to play, but it looked set to end that way as the score remained unchanged when the 90th minute ticked over. However, Namoi United clinched all three points when Cooper Brayshaw played a pass into the path of Araujo that allowed him to charge into the box and fire off a shot that found the back of the net after taking a heavy deflection.

There were still three minutes left to play after Tamworth FC kicked off but Namoi United held on to prevail 4-3, and their coach told The Courier that although they still have things to work on, he was pleased with his side’s performance and the resilience they showed.

“Overall it was very pleasing, and not just because of the win,” Neil Brayshaw said.

“The guys did really well to hang in there and to come back after being down 2-0 at half-time.

“We were actually playing quite well in that first half. It was just a couple of sloppy mistakes that cost us.

“We had a great talk there at half-time about making our passes stick and being patient. The boys did that and we scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“We ended up winning the second half 4-1, which is a testament to the side.

“It wasn’t our best performance but it showed the spirit we’ve got going at the club.

“There is plenty of improvement in us but it’s been a really good start to the season.

“There’s combinations there that can only get better.”

The victory saw Namoi United finish the weekend on six points in second place on the seven-team Southern Conference ladder. They are just one point behind North Companions but have two games in hand on them.

The season will now break for two weekends due to the coming Easter Long weekend and then Anzac Day falling on a Friday.

Namoi United’s next matchday is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, when they host the Hillvue Rovers at Hogan Oval in round five.

Meanwhile, the combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree club’s reserve grade side lost 2-0 against Tamworth FC.

The visitors opened the scoring in the sixth minute and led 1-0 at half-time, before Namoi goalkeeper Marco Aria was sent off in the 67th minute and Tamworth FC doubled their lead 10 minutes later.

Aria’s red card has since been overturned as it was deemed only worthy of being a yellow card offence, so he will be able to play on May 3.