The stage is set for an electrifying showdown in the Northern Inland Premier League first grade grand final as Inverell takes on Moore Creek at the Inverell Sporting Complex on Saturday.
These two teams have been the benchmark of the competition all year, with Inverell claiming the Northern Conference minor premiership and Moore Creek capturing the Southern Conference minor premiership.
No side has scored more goals than Moore Creek in 2024 while no side has conceded a fewer number of goals than Inverell, which will make for an intriguing battle in the decider.
Inverell are riding a wave of momentum following their dramatic 1-0 major semi-final victory over the Mountain Goats on September 14 when a Paul Leo stoppage time header at Gipps Street Sporting Fields earned his side the home grand final.
That clean sheet was Inverell’s second in a row following a run of six games without earning any, which coach Damien Schutz credited to the introduction of former striker Andrew Saru to the backline.
The major semi-final result also ended an eight-game unbeaten run for Moore Creek, but the Mountain Goats bounced back last Saturday when an Isaac Wilson goal midway through the second half saw them get over Armidale City Westside in a 1-0 preliminary final victory.
The two grand finalists are both pumped to have won their way through to the big dance and are determined to get the job done and be crowned champions as they both search for their maiden first grade minor and major premiership double.
Schutz believes the Inverell men can stand tall on the day but is expecting another tough battle from the Mountain Goats.
“I think it’s going to be low-scoring and a tight contest. This grand final is anyone’s game,” Schutz said.
“The boys are pumped. We had a light session (on Thursday night) in the rain and they are all up for it.
“Moore Creek are a good team. They’re young, they’re fit and they have a couple of quick fellas up front. We’ll be on a big field and that probably suits them.
“The semi-final against them was a good game and it could have gone either way. We had a lot of pressure on them early but we didn’t take our chances.
“If we start this weekend the way we did in the major semi, I think it’ll go a long way to us taking it out.”
Moore Creek’s coach Andy Cygan has taken the side to another level this season during his first campaign as the club’s sole first grade coach. He said he was proud of the way his men have played this year and is confident they can get the job done on Saturday.
“I’m really proud. We had a nice moment after the game last weekend where we talked about how good it is to go through,” Cygan said.
“We all got asked at the start of the season – whether it was the newspaper or TV – who we would want to play in the final, and I said I’d love to beat Inverell in the final. Hopefully that will happen.
“Our plan and my plan this year was always minor premiers and make it to the grand final. We’ve done that and we’ve now got something to play for at the end now.
“We’ve got here the hard way. We knew the Westside game would be tight but I thought we were confident we would win that one. We played pretty well. There were not many chances in the game.
“The highlight for us the past couple of weeks has been our defence. Inverell scored in the 92nd minute or whatever it was in the semi-final. We switched off for a second and they punished us, but the rest of the time in the past two games it’s been the best we’ve defended all year. We’ve been so solid.
“I think this Saturday will be a close game, and whoever scores first will win it. I think both us and Inverell, we’re not used to conceding many goals or going behind.
“In the games leading up to the finals we were scoring two or three goals in the first 15 minutes, so if we can just get one it will settle us.”
Cygan said he thought that Inverell had quality all over the pitch.
“Inverell’s left winger is one of their better players. He scored the goal against us in the semi-final. We’ll need to keep him quiet,” the Mountain Goats’ coach said.
“Their keeper is really good too. He was brilliant when we played them last. He comes and collects crosses on the penalty spot, and then he throws it to the halfway line when he gets it.
“They’re pretty solid all over though, and we have a game plan that we’ll be trying to execute.
“We always create enough chances, we just need to take them in this game.”
The major benefit of Moore Creek’s reserve grade preliminary final loss last weekend is that the Mountain Goats enter this Saturday’s first grade grand final with a full fresh bench for the first time this season, and Cygan advised they would be at full strength.
Inverell have plenty of depth at their club and will be able to field a fully fresh bench with the exception of one player despite playing in both grades on the day.
With history on the line and both teams primed for a tough battle, the crowd at Inverell Sporting Complex on Saturday can expect an unforgettable showdown as Inverell and Moore Creek battle for the ultimate prize in the Northern Inland Premier League.
Inverell and Oxley Vale Attunga to renew their fierce reserve grade rivalry on grand final day
Inverell and Oxley Vale Attunga will resume their rivalry on the biggest day of the year this Saturday when they go head-to-head in the Northern Inland Premier League reserve grade grand final at the Inverell Sporting Complex.
The two sides have met twice during the 2024 campaign and traded 2-1 victories over one another. Inverell’s win was back in round five in May on home soil and OVA’s was two weeks ago in the major semi-final at Gipps Street Sporting Fields to book their spot in the decider.
Inverell then bounced back from that loss in brilliant fashion last Saturday when they cruised past Moore Creek 5-2.
The Inverell men will have the home ground advantage after their first grade side locked in Inverell Sporting Complex as the venue following a major semi-final win on September 14, and coach Damien Schutz is confident that his reserve grade team will be crowned champions if they take last weekend’s goal-scoring momentum into Saturday’s game.
“It’s been an up and down season and we haven’t been ultra-consistent in reserve grade, but the guys have started to find a bit of form lately,” Schutz said.
“Our midfield has been unchanged for the past four or five games, which has helped.
“We probably should have won the major semi against OVA. I reckon we had 90 per cent of the possession that day but didn’t take our chances again.
“We took our chances against Moore Creek last weekend and came away with the win. We’d worked on finishing and being clinical and it paid off.
“OVA are a young side and it’s good to see them bringing them young fellas through actually. They have a couple of good, experienced blokes at the back, so I think if we can take the ball wide it will go a long way to winning the game.”
The Oxley Vale Attunga men had last weekend off and are now refreshed heading into the decider. Coach Chris Jarrett said they would be missing a couple of players due to work commitments, but declared there would be no excuses on game day.
“We’re really looking forward to it. Absolutely keen,” Jarrett said.
“We’d love it to be a nice, sunny day and a dry field, but I don’t think it’s going to be that.
“It might not be the same style of football as usual. I don’t think either team are really used to a wet ground, so it will be interesting to see how the players adapt to that.
“Our last game against Inverell was a close game. They managed to beat us 2-1 in round five and we returned the favour in the major semi. It’s only been one goal difference in both games between us so far, and I expect it will be a pretty close contest in the grand final as well.
“I think they are a high-pressing team. They have speed and tenacity and they just keep coming at you. We’d like to meet them with the same set of strengths on Saturday.
“I know it sounds obvious, but I think the side that can get ahead and stay ahead will win it. I think it will be a game of momentum, so the first goal will be crucial.
“It will be a good game to watch for anyone that’s up there. We both play a good style of football and the players let the football do the talking.”
There is truly nothing splitting these two sides heading into Saturday’s clash. They were both minor premiers of their respective conferences, their head-to-head record is a win each and they have both won four of their past five matches.
With so much on the line and neither side willing to back down, Saturday's grand final promises to be a thriller in front of a massive crowd at the Inverell Sporting Complex.