JOEYS FC and Gunnedah United remain at the top of their NIF McDonald’s Premier League conferences after third-round wins at home and away on Saturday.
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Oxley Vale Attunga also remain unbeaten in their two games after disposing of a spirited Tamworth FC 4-1 in Tamworth.
Jackson Haussler and his Joeys beat Demon Knights 5-1 on their Inverell Sporting Complex ground, with the coach slipping in a double.
Daniel Ferris, Amine Lihia and Rod Prentis also found the back of the net.
They probably should have had a few more too, Haussler said, but the finishing just wasn’t quite there a few times.
He was happy with the result but would have liked a shut-out.
“I really wanted to keep it to zero at the back,” he said.
They came close to holding Demon Knights out until about the 70th minute.
“The first 15 minutes was pretty even. We were getting a lot of counter-attack from Demon Knights,” Haussler said.
“After that, we pretty much dominated the game.”
He said everyone had a good game, but especially the defence.
Because they were pushing up in attack, it left them vulnerable to counter-attack but they scrambled well.
Stepping up from second grade, Ben McLachlan was good in goal.
Dominic Bush and Callum Dolby were also strong.
At Wee Waa, the Richard Grant-coached Gunnedah United overturned a 1-nil half-time deficit to beat the home side Namoi United 3-1.
Dave Every put the home side ahead at the break but Rob Pryor, Andy Cygan and Harley Cheetham replied unanswered to kick Gunnedah home by two.
In Tamworth, the OVA Mushrooms converted a 2-nil half-time lead into a 4-1 victory.
Brendon Fergie’s first-half penalty was added to by Adam Watson just before half-time in a game where Tamworth FC had plenty of the play and went close to scoring twice in the first half through Zac Kam and Tim Smith.
Lachlan Browne and Luke Purcell added second-half goals while Kurt Barrow pulled one back for FC before injuring a hamstring and retiring for the day.
FC also lost midfield star Tim Smith with an eye injury.
OVA coach Tim Coates described it as a “great team effort” but where Adam Watson was outstanding.
Sam Higgins and Matthew Alcorn also held the Mushie midfield together and Matt Dunn, who played a full game in second grade, came on to play three quarters of the first grade strongly.
In Armidale, East Armidale and North Armidale played out a 3-all draw in their local derby at Doody Park.
