Defending champs Narrabri Eleven FC cruise to derby victory

A new Namoi Soccer League season is underway and the defending champs Narrabri Eleven FC have an early win under their belt following a dominant local derby display at Hogan Oval last week.

The Elevens took on Narrabri FC in a rescheduled round one clash under lights at Hogan Oval on Wednesday, April 16, after the fixture was initially washed out on Saturday, April 5.

Last season’s grand final winners scored an 11-0 victory against their local rivals to bounce back from a 2-1 round two loss against Moree Blue at Gately Field just days earlier.

The Elevens scored the first goal of the contest in their season opener when player-coach Zac Stait got onto the end of a Lennon Simmonds pass in behind the defence and slotted his shot to make the score 1-0 against Moree Blue.

However, the Moree outfit equalised before half-time and then found a winner in the second stanza to return home as 2-1 winners.

It was Zac’s brother Ollie who scored first on Wednesday night when he won and converted a penalty kick in the sixth minute.

The Elevens then doubled their lead in the 12th minute and scored four more before half-time to go into the break with a commanding 6-0 lead, and they netted five goals between the hour-mark and full-time to run away with an 11-0 victory.

Coach Zac Stait and captain Rowan Keeler both finished the match with hat-tricks, while Callum Wales and Ollie Stait netted two goals each and Jacob Teer scored the other.

Narrabri FC did create several shots on goal but were unable to convert, mostly due to the efforts of Elevens goalkeeper Derek Kabaira.

Elevens’ 2024 season grand final-winning player-coach Zac Stait told The Courier that he was happy to be leading the side again this year and he was impressed with the team’s performance on Wednesday night.

“We’ve been having to sit people out so far because numbers are really good for us this year,” Stait said.

“In our first game, we were a bit slow and we didn’t get the win. It wasn’t the worst game that we’ve played but there was definitely improvements to be made.

“In the game against Narrabri FC, we were a lot better. We just tried to slow things down and try to get right what we’d gotten wrong against Moree, and we did that.

“We played a lot better in that game compared to the first game.

“We did leave plenty of goals out there though.”

Narrabri Eleven FC pictured at Hogan Oval last week before their Namoi Soccer League Narrabri derby clash against Narrabri FC - back, Chris Simmonds, Robert Delahunt, Brad Cornall, player-coach Zac Stait, Grace Hardy, Clayton Laws, Jordan Hannaford, Derek Kabaira, front, Matt O’Meara, Lennon Simmonds, Ollie Stait, Rowan Keeler, Ava Smith, Josh Boyd holding Kayce Boyd, Jacob Teer and Callum Wales. Narrabri Eleven FC pictured at Hogan Oval last week before their Namoi Soccer League Narrabri derby clash against Narrabri FC - back, Chris Simmonds, Robert Delahunt, Brad Cornall, player-coach Zac Stait, Grace Hardy, Clayton Laws, Jordan Hannaford, Derek Kabaira, front, Matt O’Meara, Lennon Simmonds, Ollie Stait, Rowan Keeler, Ava Smith, Josh Boyd holding Kayce Boyd, Jacob Teer and Callum Wales.

Narrabri FC pictured at Hogan Oval last week before their Namoi Soccer League Narrabri derby clash against Narrabri Eleven FC - back, Leondre Smith, Joshua Went, James Stuart, Colby Williams, Hamish Nalder, Charlie Butler, Elijah Ghassan, Colin Stuart, Ben Stride, coach Steph Stride, front, Jobe O’Regan, Joseph Slattery, Baxter Gabbott, Isabella Keys, Jacob Stuart, Seb Myers, Jakson Dowdell and Blake Stride. Narrabri FC pictured at Hogan Oval last week before their Namoi Soccer League Narrabri derby clash against Narrabri Eleven FC - back, Leondre Smith, Joshua Went, James Stuart, Colby Williams, Hamish Nalder, Charlie Butler, Elijah Ghassan, Colin Stuart, Ben Stride, coach Steph Stride, front, Jobe O’Regan, Joseph Slattery, Baxter Gabbott, Isabella Keys, Jacob Stuart, Seb Myers, Jakson Dowdell and Blake Stride.

Wee Waa United FC’s team that travelled to the Moree Services Club Field on Saturday, April 12, for their first match of the 2025 Namoi Soccer League season against Moree Yellow - back, Sara-Jane Horne, Jack Kiem, Nathan Hamblin, Ryan Creasey, Jordan Johnson, front, James Smith, Amelia Kiem, Shane Kable, Matthew Freeman, Billy Shearin and Nathan Bolton. Photo: Supplied Wee Waa United FC’s team that travelled to the Moree Services Club Field on Saturday, April 12, for their first match of the 2025 Namoi Soccer League season against Moree Yellow - back, Sara-Jane Horne, Jack Kiem, Nathan Hamblin, Ryan Creasey, Jordan Johnson, front, James Smith, Amelia Kiem, Shane Kable, Matthew Freeman, Billy Shearin and Nathan Bolton. Photo: Supplied

Wee Waa United have played one game so far after they travelled to challenge Moree Yellow at the Moree Services Club Field in round two. The hosts prevailed in a nine-goal thriller that day as they defeated Wee Waa 5-4.

Nathan Hamblin and Ryan Creasey both netted braces in that match.

Narrabri FC sat out with the bye in round two and have also only played once across the first two rounds.

The season will resume on Saturday, May 3, following two weekends off for the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day long weekend. The Elevens will welcome Wee Waa United to Gately Field in round three while Narrabri FC travel to the Moree Services Club Field to take on Moree Blue.