DEMON Knights leapfrogged North Armidale Redmen into third place on the NIF Premier League Northern Conference first grade table with a big 8-nil win over Moree FC on Saturday.
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The Evan Quaife-coached Knights jumped to 15 points on the Northern Conference ladder, two ahead of North Armidale Redmen, who were 5-nil losers to Tamworth FC.
Callum MacGregor scored twice in both halves and Kirk Burton nailed a first-half hat- trick for Demon Knights.
Sam Constance also added an eighth to have the side bubbling along.
Demon Knights play North Armidale in a huge home game for both sides at Phil Wheaton Oval this Saturday.
“The minor premiership is still wide open,” Quaife said.
“There is a lot of friendly rivalry between our two clubs as well,” he added.
“These matches are always good, tough matches.”
He was delighted with Saturday’s 8-nil win but it came at the expense of a Moree side which had just “14 or so players for both grades”.
He thought they did well to turn up and play both games.
He also thought 17-year-old MacGregor was outstanding again while Burton also starred with his first-half hat-trick.
“I thought our midfield played well,” Quaife said.
“Chris Daley was great in midfield but it was a good all- round team performance.
“Most of them were well- worked goals too, resulting from good passing and some pretty good football.”
The Redmen will be a far different proposition on their home track, especially after a 5-nil hammering from Tamworth FC.
It was another impressive display from the Darryl Smith-coached Tamworth FC.
They have been ignited by the arrival of Englishman Billy Webb, who has now scored 10 goals in four games.
He bagged another double at Phil Wheaton Oval last Saturday to go with goals from fellow countryman Michael Roberts, Jarrod Chester and Cameron Potter.
“The boys have been playing really well the past month or so,” FC team manager Greg Bartlett.
“Michael Roberts goal (Tamworth FC’s first) was a cracker from 30m.
“And Billy also had a penalty brilliantly saved by their goalie as well as having a couple of good chances too.
“Cameron Potter also scored a good goal.
“He’d played a full game in second grade and three quarters of the first grade game too,” Bartlett said.
“But this was another good team effort.”
He said the form of Roberts has been impressive since his return.
“He’s also been playing a different role this year,” Bartlett said.
“He’s been playing a holding role in midfield.
“He’s not scored as many goals as he did last year but is helping set the play up.”
