Namoi United FC kicked off their 2026 Northern Inland Premier League first grade campaign in victorious fashion with a 1-0 win in Armidale on Saturday afternoon.
The combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree club travelled to Phil Wheaton Oval to meet Norths United in the round one contest, and the match was separated by a Rodrigo Araujo strike in the second stanza after the two teams were locked at 0-0 at half-time.
The club’s 2025 golden boot winner got to a loose ball first in the 56th minute after it was cleared upfield from deep within Namoi’s half, and the striker controlled the ball with his back to goal before turning and proving too good for three defenders who attempted to tackle him as he curled a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box into the top-right corner to make it 1-0.
That was the way the score remained when the full-time whistle sounded as the Namoi United men travelled home with all three points.
While the victory was the most crucial aspect of the round one contest, there were also plenty of positive signs defensively.
Namoi United only kept three clean sheets in 16 matches throughout the 2025 campaign, and their first of those was in round 14 in July.
Keeping Norths United scoreless on Saturday was the defensive start that coach Neil Brayshaw was looking for from his men, and he was proud of the way his side ground out a win to kick off the season in style.
Other round one winners were the defending champions Inverell FC, the 2025 finalists Moore Creek, East Armidale and North Companions. Inverell cruised to a dominant 10-0 win against Armidale City Westside, Moore Creek edged out Tamworth FC 2-1, North Companions defeated Hillvue Rovers 4-1, and East Armidale outscored South United 6-3.
The other match saw Oxley Vale Attunga and Demon Knights contest a 1-all draw.
Meanwhile, Namoi United’s reserve grade side went down 5-1 in the first game of the day at Phil Wheaton Oval on Saturday.
The visitors trailed 4-0 before Jacob Hopman got them on the scoresheet late in the first half. Norths United then scored a lone goal in the second half.
Namoi United will line up for their first home game of the 2026 campaign this Saturday when they welcome Tamworth FC to the Narrabri High School field in both grades.
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