OXLEY Vale Attunga and North Companions both earned the right to sit out next weekend’s Northern Inland Premier League semi-finals after respective wins in Saturday’s qualifying rounds.
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Reigning premiers OVA accounted for East Armidale 1-0, courtesy an Adam Watson first-half goal at Carter Street, while North Companions’ trip to Inverell’s Sporting Complex proved a winner, the visitors coming away 3-1 victors over the Joeys.
But the first half didn’t go Northies’ way at all, the Joeys leading 1-0 at halftime after coach Jackson Haussler slipped one into the net.
They had to fight back in the second half, according to coach Gavin Thompson.
“I didn’t make the trip, work commitments, but Des Sanders was pretty excited with the boys after the game.
“He said while they made mistakes, they also did a lot right.
“And they really got back into the game in the second half, with Nick Bowden, Will Kam and Brodie King all scoring goals,” Thompson said.
“Jackson Haussler’s goal came right before half time. There was a goalmouth scramble and he slotted it away.”
OVA’s goal in their 1-0 win over East Armidale was the result of the experienced boot of Watson, according to coach Tim Coates.
“He’s been playing for a long time – very experienced. He just saw the opportunity and took it, popping one over the top from 40m out,” Coates said.
“It was a top team effort though – all the boys played hard.
“Goalie Troy Keyte saved a penalty in the first 10 minutes and that gave the side a good lift.”
Both sides will now have this weekend off, awaiting the results of elimination games between East Armidale and Gunnedah United, and Demon Knights and Inverell.
North Companions will take on the winners of the Easts/Gunnedah clash while OVA will face the winners of the Demon Knights/Joeys game.
In Saturday’s elimination quarter-finals, it was a good day for the fourth-placed sides, with Gunnedah and Demon Knights both getting up.
Gunnedah accounted for Norths United 2-0 in Armidale while Demon Knights registered a 3-0 victory over Tamworth FC at Johnson Field.
While Gunnedah’s two goals came from Sam Hos, coach Richard Grant said the absolute standouts for the game were Matt Chappell and Craig Louis.
“They both played with us back in 2002 when we won the premiership but neither will be available when we play East Armidale next weekend due to work commitments,” Grant said.
“But we’ve got a very resilient side and we’ll do our best and work overtime to get the balance to replace the two unavailable players.”
Cal McGregor, James Thomson and Josh Quaife scored in DK’s three-goal win.