Taking on some of the top community teams in the state, the Tamworth sides reigned supreme at Coffs Harbour in their respective age groups.

The narrative was similar in both sides' triumphs, with both exceeding expectations, almost impenetrable in defence and securing the spoils with two unanswered second half goals.

Will Albertson struck both for North Companions as they stunned table-topping Bellingen FC 2-nil.

"It was all based on defence," Stanton said.

"We weren't brilliant in attack but we did enough in defence to give ourselves a chance."

They conceded just one goal for the tournament.

A lot of that comes back to attitude, and Stanton couldn't praise their attitude enough, remarking that you "get rewarded for the effort you put in".

The final was the perfect example.

After two days of "tough soccer", they were "physically drained" going into the final.

Having played three games in five hours the previous day and another game earlier that day some of them had to lift their legs in the warm-up they were that tired.

"[But] When they got on the paddock they found that little bit extra and worked through that hurt," Stanton said.

He didn't really go in with a lot of expectation, especially a "very young side". One has only just turned 13.

"We've got a good quality side but when you go away to a tournament like that you're not sure what the competition is going to be like," he said.

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"The expectation going away was to score a goal and if we could win a game that was a bonus."

But after winning their first game that expectation grew, and so did their confidence.

It was a similar story for the Kougarettes, although due to the predicted inclement weather, their carnival was condensed from three days to just one.

Coach Jack Reay said the girls played "exceptionally well" over the day and was particularly impressed with how they played together as a team.

Their performance surpassed his expectations, and their own.

"They played a lot better than they thought they were going to play," Reay said.

"They went in thinking that they were not going to come away with any wins".

Part of the reason for that was that they had only picked up the one win in the local competition.

They were albeit playing against boys. Reay believes that served them well coming up against girls.

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After beating Warner's Bay and Uki Pythons, and without a goal scored against them, they then found themselves trailing in the final against Western Phoenix 1-nil at half-time.

Danielle Bishop got them on level terms early in the second half of the final, the goal giving them a confidence boost.

"After the first goal they definitely lifted a bit and started playing their own game," Reay said.

In the first half the Phoenix were well on top.

"We let them push us around and let them do everything," he said.

"The second half we dictated better."

That led to more chances and seven minutes after Bishop scored, Nakeisha Burgess slotted the match-winner.

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