Attacking midfielder Will Menz and striker Mitchell O’Keeffe both scored twice, as the home side benefited from the return of players, Mushies coach Tim Coates said.

Mushies led 4-0 at the break.

Coates said South Armidale and OVA were similar in that they were both missing a lot of players from last season.

“They’re a young squad trying to get it together,” he said. “Probably two teams in a similar space.”

He added: “We took the foot off the accelerator in the second half. There was no need to punish them – just a bit of practice for us as well.

“So it was good. It was good for them, I think, for their morale to not get decimated. And I think it was good for us to try and play football.”

OVA opened the scoring in the 11th minute through left midfielder Nash Tapp, who promoted the ball forward and then made himself available to push the ball past the keeper.

“It was a nicely worked goal down the left-hand side,” Coates said.

That was followed by goals to Menz and consecutive strikes to O’Keeffe.

After the break, central midfielder Ryan Searl scored, before Menz struck again.

In another clash, Demon Knights beat East Armidale 4-2 at home.