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NORTH Companions had to withstand a Demon Knights barrage early before grabbing all three points in their crossover NIF Premier League clash on Saturday, while Tamworth FC went within a whisker of claiming all 12 points on offer (Firsts and Reserves) in their weekend double against South Armidale and Joeys FC.
After drawing nil-all with South Scorpions at Armidale Sportground on Saturday the Wayne May-coached Tamworth FC beat Joeys FC 2-nil in Tamworth on Sunday.
A brilliant Cameron Potter goal in the first half gave the reigning champions a 1-nil buffer at the break before Scott May finished off a crisply hit Michael Roberts strike and rebound to notch a late match sealer.
It took Tamworth FC back to the top of the McDonald’s Premier League Southern Conference.
Ten points from 12 was pretty good,” May said after Sunday’s wins
Tamworth FC’s second grade side beat South Armidale 2-nil and then lined up for a 6-nil win over Joeys FC with Kurt Barrow notching four and Kobe Russell two. Russell and Jack Byrne had scored in Saturday’s second grade
success.
“It’s been a long weekend,” May said.
“But pretty good for us. We’re back on top in A grade and second grade have sealed the minor
premiership.”
It was also a good weekend for North Companions, who remained second to Tamworth FC on the first grade table.
The Gavin Thompson-coached NC hosted DK on their Marius Street ground in Tamworth and had to defend grimly early on as the Armidale side launched numerous attacks.
“The first 15 minutes they really came at us,” North Companions coach Gavin Thompson told The Leader.
“They put us under a lot of
pressure.
“However we were able to get on top and scored a good goal, through Will Kam. It was a good build-up through the middle with Ben van Aanholt.
“We could have scored a few more too before half time, but we were able to add a second from a well worked free kick.”
Leading 2-nil at half-time the home side didn’t have it all their way in the second half.
“They (DK) are a good side and they kept coming all game.
“Defensively we were pretty good. It was a great effort.”
Both sides shared the second half praise, the game finishing well for North Companions who were best served by centre back Zac Kam, goalkeeper Brendan Langenbaker and Jake Thompson.
Oxley Vale Attunga weren’t as fortunate up north where they were able to scramble a 2-all draw.
n Chelsea slumped to their first pre-season defeat in Bremen.
They were beaten 3-0 by Werder Bremen in Germany to spoil the return of Didier Drogba and the debut of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Ivory Coast legend Drogba made his first appearance for Chelsea since scoring the penalty that won the 2012 Champions League in Munich when he came on as a second-half substitute for summer signing Diego Costa.
However, Jose Mourinho’s side were already 2-0 down at that point and Drogba’s return ended in a tame defeat at the
Weserstadion.