NORTH Armidale Redmen left their North Companions opposition red-faced when they handed the previously unbeaten Men In Black a 5-nil drubbing at NC’s Marius Street, Tamworth headquarters on Saturday.
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It wasn’t the only thrashing handed out by an Armidale side either in a wet and miserable inter-conference McDonald’s Premier League.
Demon Knights thrashed Narrabri-Wee Waa 7-nil at Rologas Oval, Armidale and South Armidale flogged Moree FC 10-1 at Armidale Sportsground, sending East Armidale to the top of the PL’s Northern Conference after East beat Gunnedah Hawks 4-3 at Kitchener Park, Gunnedah and Inverell’s Joeys FC drew 4-all with Gunnedah United at Gunnedah’s Wolseley Park.
In Tamworth, North Armidale Redmen weathered an early Companions assault to lead 1-nil and then added four second-half goals in a morale- boosting win that propelled the Andy Lennon-coached side to equal second with Joeys, two points behind East on the Northern Conference table.
Club stalwart Willow Grieves poached two goals for the Redmen at Marius Street while Declan Druitt, Hayden Freeman and Andrew McGann also chipped in.
Neil Wheaton, the club’s second grade coach, was filling in for Lennon who was caught out by flight problems returning home from Tasmania, and was delighted.
“They were tough conditions,” he said of the wintry blast.
“It’s always a tough game against North Companions.
“They’re a good team, well- coached and play good football.
“We did play well and took our chances. In the second half the ball fell for us.”
He thought Willow Grieves was outstanding and the back four – Andrew McGann, Jim Bermingham, Ari Georkas and James Frost– excelled.
“Our goalkeeper, Riley Hopgood, also made a couple of very good saves too,” Wheaton said.
North Companions coach Gavin Thompson was hugely disappointed.
We absolutely dominated the first half,” Thompson said.
“We should have led four or five-nil.
“We missed four or five easy chances and they had one chance and scored.
“We played very well that first half but the second half we were a different team.
“We should have scored those goals early and it would have been a different game.
“They (North Armidale) deserved to win.
“They showed more commitment in the second half and we dropped our heads.”
It was North Companions’ first loss of the new season, allowing Oxley Vale Attunga to join them on top of the Southern Conference after the Mushies beat Guyra 4-2 in difficult conditions in Guyra.
Adam Watson and Luke Purcell both notched goal doubles.
No scoring details or match reports were received from Guyra United, South Armidale, East Armidale, Joeys FC, Gunnedah Hawks, Demon Knights and Narrabri-Wee Waa.
Clubs are reminded they should fill out The Northern Daily Leader match reports/score sheets given to them by Northern Inland Football executive officer Dino Perizzolo if they wish coverage.