Namoi United returned to winning ways in the 12th round of the 2025 Northern Inland Premier League first grade campaign on Saturday but will likely be without key player Cooper Brayshaw for the remainder of the season after the midfielder suffered a knee injury late in the contest.
The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree team welcomed South United to Hogan Oval and beat the Tamworth-based club 2-1 after a late scare.
It was the result the side was looking for after they lost for the first time this year a week earlier when they were beaten 8-1 at home by Oxley Vale Attunga.
Jake Brayshaw opened the scoring in the 25th minute against South United after charging onto a Matt Hamblin pass in behind the defence and driving a shot across the keeper that found the bottom right corner.
The score remained 1-0 at the half-time break and the hosts doubled their lead 11 minutes into the second stanza when Jake Brayshaw ran in behind onto another through ball, this time from his brother Cooper, and squared a cross from the left edge to Nick Gorton, who made no mistake from close range.
The youngest of the Brayshaw brothers went down with a knee injury after attempting a tackle in the 73rd minute, and his absence was felt as South United hit back with a goal two minutes later, with Michael Ainsworth getting onto a cross and heading home from close range.
Namoi United held on to prevail 2-1 though as they scored their fifth win in nine games to move back into outright third place on the ladder.
Defender Dean Hamblin also went down in that match but he is expected to be back when Namoi United travel to Armidale’s Phil Wheaton Oval in round 14 later this month.
Namoi United have been struck hard by injury, sickness and other availability, and will forfeit in both grades against Moore Creek this weekend.
Meanwhile, Namoi’s reserve grade team lost 2-1 against South United on Saturday. Cody Shepherdson scored for the home side in the 51st minute.
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