The 2024 Northern Inland Premier League campaign will hit the one-month mark on Saturday when 12 of the 13 clubs line up for round four matches.
The competition will return to Narrabri for the first time since 2016 when Namoi United host Tamworth FC at Hogan Oval, and there will also be two matches played in Armidale when East Armidale United FC welcome Oxley Vale Attunga FC to Doody Park while Demon Knights and Norths United go head-to-head at Rologas Sporting Fields.
The other three matches will be contested in Tamworth, with North Companions FC hosting South Armidale United FC at Marius Street Sporting Fields, Hillvue Rovers FC welcoming Armidale City Westside to Riverside 3A, and Moore Creek FC and South United FC clashing at Riverside 4A.
Inverell FC have the bye after kicking off the season with two wins from as many matches.
There were some convincing victories last Saturday in round three and they were headlined by Armidale City Westside’s 12-0 demolition of Tamworth FC at Harris Park to end the day on top of the ladder.
Moore Creek put a loss in their season opener a week earlier behind them when they outscored Hillvue 6-2 at Riverside 3A, while at Riverside 4A OVA scored their second win in as many games when they downed North Companions 4-1.
Inverell also picked up their second win in their second game of the season when they defeated Namoi United 4-1 at the Moree Services Club field, and the two tightest games of the round unfolded at Armidale where Demon Knights beat South Armidale 2-0 at Rologas Sporting Fields and Norths United defeated South United 3-1 at Phil Wheaton Oval.
East Armidale had the bye and they will be chasing their first win of the campaign in round four.
There was also a game played on Sunday when OVA and Moore Creek went head-to-head in their rescheduled round one match, and they drew 0-0 as tired legs from their games on Saturday before took their toll.
A lot of the pre-season talk this year involved Inverell and how they would fair in 2024 following a dominant build-up to the competition, OVA and how they would bounce back after last year’s grand final defeat, South Armidale and how they would shape up as they look to defend their championship, Moore Creek and if they can get that bit stronger to get themselves in the decider, and even Namoi United and the impact the three-town team would have in their return to the competition.
However, it is Armidale City Westside that have turned the most heads so far following two dominant victories in their opening two matches.
Westside have piled on 20 goals and are yet to concede one following 8-0 and 12-0 wins, and they are determined to continue that form today when they travel to Tamworth to meet Hillvue Rovers.
Their coach Anthony Gray has been thrilled with what he has seen from his side so far.
“I think it all comes back to us being prepared. That’s the difference for us this year,” Gray said of his side’s red-hot start.
“We had a good pre-season working on a few key areas, and our team hasn’t changed much from last year. I think there’s just one new addition. We’ve had the time playing and preparing together and things are just clicking at the moment.
“Our message this year has been when we defend, we want to put a desperation to it. That starts at the top, and our defence starts as soon as we lose the ball, our attackers have to be involved straight away.
“In attack, it’s not just been the top two, it’s right across the midfield. There’s not been one player that’s taken the spotlight and our goals have been spread out quite evenly. Defenders have been scoring off corners and everyone has been involved. We’re not just relying on one player, which is good to see.”
Gray has challenged his side not to get complacent going forward, and he wants to see them produce another quality performance today in their first away game of the campaign.
“Two games isn’t a measure of the season so we need to remain humble,” the Westside goalkeeper/coach said.
“There will be times that we’re going to have to be under pressure, and we’ll have to be able to absorb it and still continue to play the way we want to play.
“We would have preferred a harder test at the moment, but that will come.
“Hillvue are not going to want to come out and concede lots of goals, so they’re going to be difficult to break down, and it won’t be an easy game for us. I think it will be a difficult test.
“It’s our first away game as well. I know it’s only an hour away, but travel still adds a component that we have to adjust to.”
These two sides met twice last year, with Westside winning both matches a combined 16-0. Hillvue will be determined to turn that around on Saturday and score their first win of the 2024 campaign, but they will need to be at their best against the form side of the competition after three rounds.
Another playing group that have started on the front foot this year are Demon Knights who are going in search of their third straight win today.
They have already claimed two huge scalps, having taken down the 2023 preliminary finalist Moore Creek 3-1 in round two and the defending champions South Armidale United 2-0 last Saturday in round three.
Their round four clash against Norths United at Rologas will be another significant test as their cross-town rivals head into the derby coming off their first win of the year last Saturday when they beat South United 3-1.
Demon Knights’ coach Rob James said that he has enjoyed the commitment his players have shown early on in the season and he is expecting a tough encounter on Saturday against Norths.
“I’ve liked how everyone has been getting stuck in,” James said.
“The commitment to holding our shape and structure in defence has kind of set the platform for us to make sure we’re not conceding too many shots, and when we have conceded shots against us, they’ve been coming from the wide areas of the field and that’s made it easier for our keeper to save them.
“We had the run of the first half last weekend (against South Armidale) and they had the run of the second half, however, they didn’t really trouble us too much in front of goal in that second half despite the amount of possession they had.
“Against Norths, I’m expecting a good challenge and a good fight. They put up a fight no matter who they are versing, and I’m anticipating as much today.”
The match at Hogan Oval on Saturday is also hotly anticipated as Namoi United and Tamworth FC go in search of their first wins of the season. The Tamworth outfit have lost two from two and the combined Narrabri/Wee Waa/Moree team have one point following a bye, a draw and a loss so far in their return to the NIPL.
Namoi United conceded four goals last weekend while Tamworth FC picked the ball out of their own net 12 times, so both sides will be searching for improved defensive efforts in round four.
East Armidale, South United and defending champions South Armidale also enter their respective matches on Saturday searching for their first victories of the season and they all have their work cut out for them as they face off against teams who have scored a win or two across the opening three rounds.