North Companions' 1-1 draw with Tamworth FC is a "huge step forward" for the side, their coach, Jackson Zifodya, has said.
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At Johnson Field, a first-half goal to Northies striker Nick Bowden was matched by a second-half strike to midfielder Brent May.
Zifodya said North Companions' performance was a big improvement on their other clashes against FC this season - a 4-1 loss in round three and a 2-1 loss in round 10 - and set the side up nicely for the run to the finals.
This one we scored early, outplayed them but sort of faded out in the second half, and they got back at us and scored.
- Jackson Zifodya
He believes that Northies should have won Saturday's encounter.
"This one we scored early, outplayed them but sort of faded out in the second half, and they got back at us and scored," he said.
"It's a huge step forward in terms of the games that we've played against them ... So I think we're going in the right direction towards the finals," he added.
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"I'm hoping we make fourth, and who knows [what will happen then]. It's a different game."
In other results, North Armidale beat OVA 3-1 at Chaffey Park, while Demon Knights downed South Armidale 4-2.
