Win and a loss for senior soccer teams

Gunnedah’s third grade soccer team had a victory while the fourth graders had a narrow defeat in last Friday night’s fixtures at the Tamworth-based Gipps Street Sporting Complex.

The third graders defeated South United 3-1, following the fourth grade team’s 4-3 defeat against the Kootingal Kougars.

Gunnedah maintained the upper hand in the third grade match, with Peter Thurbon scoring around the 10-minute mark before Mitch Harding doubled the scoreline shortly before half-time.

Harding’s second goal gave Gunnedah a comfortable three-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining, before Patrick Belt scored for Souths around the 75-minute mark.

Gunnedah manager Richard Grant said it was a good all-round team effort, with Dylan Anderson playing one of his best games for the club while Thurbon, Hayden Sawyer, Josh West and Jesse Swain also played vital roles.

Gunnedah’s third graders moved to 14 competition points, on a par with Moore Creek while behind two other teams.

Gunnedah’s fourth graders remained third on the points table despite losing to the fifth-placed Kougars.

The scoring went back-and-forth, with Kootingal’s Tom Gawthorne opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes before Gunnedah’s Cody Auld and Kootingal’s Cooper Godden also found the back of the net in the first 17 minutes.

An own goal enabled Gunnedah to draw level at the 23-minute mark, and another 37 minutes of play passed before Nic Reeves broke the deadlock for the Kougars.

Auld produced an equaliser 10 minutes later, only for Jay Thompson to put Kootingal back in the lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Grant said Gunnedah’s fourths were “unable to get a roll-on” while the Kougars were “a bit hungrier than us”, as the Gunnedah team was a bit down on confidence and player numbers.

With the line-up below full strength, Grant said the team missed some experience in the backs and some firepower up front.

“We’re a bit off the pace…but we’re not panicking yet,” Grant said.