Goal rush for Mushies and Redmen

10 May, 2010 04:00 AM

NORTH Armidale Redmen and Oxley Vale Attunga had 16-goal NEM Premier League harvests in Armidale and Inverell on Saturday as North Companions snuck their first win and East Armidale stung the South Armidale Scorpions.

East Armidale beat South 2-1, with Josh Mears and John Hickey the East goalscorers while Michael Patterson was the Scorpion scorer.

The win elevated East to level points with South but with a better goal difference.

North Armidale continued its unbeaten run with a 7-nil walloping of Gunnedah United at North Armidale Oval.

Tim Purser was outstanding for the Redmen, scoring the first with a neat back heel and adding two more for a hat- trick.

Tom McColl also slotted two penalties while Peter Ince and Brad Dunham also scored on a dismal day for United, who had seven players missing on its road trip.

“We had a bright start,” Gunnedah United coach Richard Grant said.

“Bill Vanry made a good save but then they counter- attacked and scored a good goal.

“They scored from two penalties as well so that didn’t help and then they got one more before half-time.

“Even then I knew we couldn’t come back.

“But there were some positives to come out of it for us.

“North are a good side and did bury us in the second half. It was a hammering, but we’ll regroup.”

North Armidale coach John Edmunds was delighted with the 7-nil first grade win and 9-1 second grade scoreline.

“It was a big day for us,” Edmunds said.

“We did give them a bit of touch-up in both grades.

“We’re building for a good year as I said to Richard (Grant) after the game.

“We’ve been playing well in patches but put some good plays together today.”

While Purser starred for North, Mitch Ward was also outstanding at the back with some excellent distribution.

In Inverell, reigning champions Oxley Vale Attunga also scored 16, winning 5-nil in first grade and 11-nil in seconds.

“OVA are a very good side,” Joeys FC’s Heinrich Haussler said.

“They know how to play football.

“They led 4-nil at half-time but we didn’t cave in like we did at Gunnedah and the boys played a lot better in the second half.”

Ashley Barrett and Scott Peterson were best for the Joeys.

Glenn McKnight was best for OVA and also scored twice. Ben Davis also struck twice while fullback Brendan Reid scored a deserving goal.

At Consett Davis, UNE North Companions struck early to lead 2-nil after a glancing header from James McDougall and a Brent Moffatt strike after a great ball from Dave Vernon.

That good start was wiped before half-time by two quick and impressive strikes from Heath Milne.

“One minute we were up 2-nil and then in the blink of an eye it was two-all,” North coach Andrew McFarlane said.

“They went bang, bang – two very good goals from their number 11.

“He’s a real good player. And all of a sudden they were hammering us before half-time.”

McFarlane made some changes and stressed a need to stiffen up in defence while also “sticking Andrew Beer on their 11”.

The game changed again when North was awarded a penalty when Moffatt was brought down in the penalty box for Caleb Richardson to convert.

“It was a dubious penalty,” UNE skipper Brock Lamont said.

“We didn’t play very well and it was a bit of a disappointing game – not our best

performance.”

Nick Ada and Heath Milne were UNE’s best while McFarlane thought Vernon had “a real good game with Brent Moffatt up front” while Will Howard and Beer were great in defence.

“Ken Wright got hurt again today and did a knee about 20 minutes in,” McFarlane said.

“I had to send Justin Kellett on. He’d just played a full reserve grade game.

“I was very proud of him. He got knocked from pillar to post but kept getting up. He dug deep for us.” http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/goal-rush-for-mushies-and-redmen/1824685.aspx?storypage=0