It earned the Steve Gadd-coached side a Northern Conference minor premiership and a home quarter final against North Companions this Saturday after NC had beaten Namoi United 5-2 in its final-round game.

North Companions finished second to Tamworth FC on the Southern Conference ladder of the McDonald’s-sponsored Premier League and Tamworth FC will play North Armidale Redmen in a quarter-final at home on its  Johnson Field in Tamworth.

Oxley Vale Attunga is also at home this Saturday, playing East Armidale at Scully Park after a 3-1 win over Gunnedah United at Marius Street on Saturday.

United goes  to Armidale to play a South Armidale side that beat Guyra United 8-nil at New England Mutual Armidale Sportsground on Saturday.

The Scorpions host United at Armidale Sportsground and the Richard Grant-coached side will take some confidence into that away game.

“I thought we played with a lot of ticker today,” he said after Saturday’s loss.

“But we showed we can trouble any side. 

“We played well early and led 1-nil after a good goal from Evan (Lee).

“We did everything right early – turned them back in attack.”

However OVA equalised from a free kick when Brad McIvor was only able to parry the kick into the path of Matt Dunn for a tap-in goal.

Brendan Fergie then scored twice with two good goals for the Mushies while Sam Coates also made two great saves.

“He made two screamers,” Grant said.

“They were two of the best I’ve seen in the PL this year. 

“If one of them had gone in we’d have been back to 2-all.”

Jake Manley, Matt Chappell and Harley Cheetham were best for United while OVA coach Tim Coates thought his side was strong “across the park”.

“We scored a couple of good goals,” he said.

“We got back to some of the form we showed against North Companions – good solid football with good pressure and quick ball down the ground with extreme ball movement.”

He thought Cameron Skewes was outstanding and marvelled at the saves from Sam Coates.

“I wouldn’t have seen any better for a long while,” he said.