Gunnedah’s two senior soccer teams won in cold conditions at the Tamworth-based Gipps Street Sporting Complex last Friday night, following a break from the playing arena.
The third-placed fourth graders beat the fourth-placed North Companions 2-1, in their first outing for more than a month due to washouts and one forfeit.
In the later game, Gunnedah’s third graders remained in fifth place after defeating the seventh-placed Manilla 2-0.
With Norths fielding a strong line-up, the first half was testing for both fourth grade teams. Following a scoreless opening 30 minutes, Gunnedah’s Andrew Wendelborn landed the first goal with a fine solo effort.
Jayden Thomas doubled the score following a splendid 18-yard effort just after the hour-mark had passed, only for Norths to hit back within 10 minutes as Andrew Vernon sent a penalty spot kick past diving goalkeeper Harvey Stokes.
After Gunnedah’s fourth graders hung on to win, the thirds were keen to make it a winning double for Gunnedah after the thirds had had a draw in their previous fixture a fortnight earlier.
A resilient defence line led by Josh West and Slim Roberts kept multiple line breaks and attacks away from Gunnedah goalkeeper Alex White.
The composure of Gunnedah’s midfield, steered by Jesse Swain and Lachlan May, allowed strikers Dan Duffy and Hayden Sawyer to slot home beautiful single-goal efforts.
Duffy scored with a shade under five minutes remaining in the first half, before Sawyer scored around the 66-minute mark.
Gunnedah manager and coach Richard Grant said it was great for the squads to record two victories after missing so many games.
For good measure, Gunnedah’s thirds followed up with a 3-0 win over the ninth-placed North Companions in a postponed fixture at Marius Street Fields on Tuesday night. This enabled Gunnedah to move to fourth on the ladder.
Swain slotted two very similar goals past the goalkeeper on the left-hand side, and Peter Thurbon scored a beautiful lone effort from outside the 18-yard box, with the ball soaring over the goalkeeper’s head.
Gunnedah’s thirds will oppose ladder leader Quirindi this Friday in the last regular season round before the finals.
