INVERELL Joeys breathed new life into their 2016 Northern Inland McDonald’s Premier League first grade season when they snared a rare win in Tamworth on the weekend.
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The Josh Cunningham-coached Joeys beat Tamworth FC 4-2 at Riverside, just their third win of the PL season and one which left them in eighth position after North Companions managed to secure a 1-all draw with competition leaders North Armidale United on Phil Wheaton Oval, North Armidale.
It was a huge effort for the Men In Black on Redmen home soil.
The return of Jake Thompson was a bonus for North Companions.
In Tamworth, the Joeys were surprising even their own coaching staff with a brilliant effort.
They led 3-nil against Tamworth FC at halftime before FC woke up and clawed their way back to 3-2 only for Joeys to add another match-sealer.
Geoff Miller, Mike Cashel, Hamish Mingeli and Cameron Gasson all scored for Joeys, team manager Darren Halliday said.
“We had a very good day, very unexpected though,” Halliday said of what was a 3-1 win in second grade and then the two-goal win in first grade.
“We hadn’t played for three weeks either so to win those two games was surprising.
“Second grade was one of the best games I’ve ever seen them play.”
First grade was a huge bonus.
“We’ve been having trouble finding the net but it all seemed to flow today and we defended really well too.”
In contrast, Tamworth FC manager Greg Bartlett couldn’t remember seeing the club play worse in either grade.
“It’s the worst I’ve seen second grade play,” he said of a side where Andrew Jones was having his first game of the season and duly scored the lone FC goal.
In first grade, Tamworth FC were outplayed in the first half to trail 3-nil.
“Then we played for about 25 minutes and come back to 3-2,” Bartlett said.
The Ben Davis-coached looked side to have another goal at its mercy but an equaliser went begging as Joeys went the full length of the field to score a match-sealer.
At Carter Street, Oxley Vale Attunga had a great start, with Dan Cannon scoring in the first minute against South Armidale.
However the Scorpions hit back with goals from Ben and Jamie Wright before Benn Genardini scored from a rebound off the cross bar.
OVA coach Tim Coates said it was a good team effort although Adam Watson and Lachlan Browne were standouts.
“Adam worked his backside off in the middle of the field and Lachlan was his partner – they had great games.
“Will Menz and Jack Diebold continue to grow as well.”
