Namoi United’s finals push goes down to the final weekend following crucial home win

Namoi United FC’s push for a maiden Northern Inland Premier League first grade finals berth will continue into the final weekend of the 2025 season as the club gears up for its third double-header in as many weekends this Saturday and Sunday.

The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree club was in danger of capitulating following a 9-0 loss on home soil at Narrabri High School against Moore Creek on Saturday as a combination of injuries, other unavailability and a significant lack of training due to wet weather and a heavy schedule in recent weeks finally gave way against the best side in the competition.

The Namoi United men went behind in the third minute of the round 19 clash and never looked like getting any points out of the game as a clinical Mountain Goats side continued to find the back of the net as the game went on.

However, an inspired effort the following day saw the Namoi side rally and overcome that heavy loss as they defeated Tamworth FC 2-0 at the same venue.

That rescheduled round 16 clash was a six-pointer, given Tamworth FC was one of the two other sides battling Namoi United for third place on the southern conference ladder, the other of which is Hillvue Rovers who beat Tamworth FC 4-1 on Saturday in round 19.

Those results saw Hillvue and Namoi United finish the weekend locked on 25 points, with Tamworth FC close behind them on 23 with two games each to play.

That means it will all come down to the sides’ double headers this weekend.

Namoi United’s coach Neil Brayshaw told The Courier that he was proud of his men for remaining in the battle this late in the season despite the adversity they had faced in 2025.

He was also ecstatic with the way they bounced back from Saturday’s loss to record their seventh win and just their second clean sheet of the year.

Nick Gorton opened the scoring for Namoi United in the 16th minute on Sunday when he netted from a few metres out after a goal-mouth scramble following an overhit corner kick that defender Nathan Trindall headed back towards goal.

The hosts were in front 1-0 at half-time and they doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Matt Hamblin calmly slotted a one-on-one strike following some brilliant build-up play from Connor Hill to set up his midfielder for an explosive counter-attacking goal.

Namoi United were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Aden Bridge collided with Tamworth FC’s goalkeeper while trying to get to a bouncing ball first, and was red-carded for the collision.

It took a brave effort from all of the home side’s players to keep a clean sheet and earn the three points, with Trindall a standout in the heart of defence after driving almost seven hours from Brisbane that day just to play the game.

Tamworth FC and Hillvue have tough matches against first-placed Moore Creek and second-placed Oxley Vale Attunga this Saturday, while Namoi United travel to Tamworth to challenge the sixth-placed southern conference side North Companions at Marius Street Sporting Fields.

The Namoi men will travel back to Tamworth the following day to meet Oxley Vale Attunga at Gipps Street Sporting Fields in a rescheduled round 17 game, while Hillvue and Tamworth FC travel to Armidale for their last fixtures.

Meanwhile, the northern conference minor premiership race was wrapped up across the weekend when defending champions Inverell FC won 7-0 against South Armidale United on Saturday and 1-0 against North Companions on Sunday, both at home.

East Armidale picked up four of six points from their two games but ended the weekend nine points behind Inverell with just one left to play.

That game is tonight against third-placed side Armidale City Westside, who are now five points behind East Armidale with two games in hand on them and are a very good chance of finishing second if they can win tonight.