2024 has been a breakout year so far for Inverell Football Club. It has included a Johnson Cup grand final victory, a successful return to the Northern Inland Premier League and a triumphant Australia Cup preliminary round run that they are determined to continue on Saturday at Inverell Sporting Complex.
They have beaten almost everyone who has stood before them and they are full of confidence heading into preliminary round six of this year’s Australia Cup tournament.
Damien Schutz’s men have knocked off three teams to get to this stage. They had a bye in round two before winning 7-2 away from home in round three against fellow NIPL club Demon Knights FC. They were lucky enough to draw home games in rounds four and five, during which they defeated the NIPL defending champions South Armidale United FC 4-1 and Football Mid North Coast Premier League side Goonellabah FC 5-0.
They have been made to work hard for their wins, but as those scorelines suggest, they have cruised through the tournament so far and they are now just two wins away from a spot in the national rounds.
But they face a challenge like no other on Saturday when they welcome Northern NSW Football National Premier League heavyweights Edgeworth Eagles to town for a midday kick-off.
Edgeworth are one of Northern NSW Football’s most successful Australia Cup clubs alongside their NPL NNSW opponents Broadmeadow Magic. The Eagles have progressed to the national rounds five times, with their most recent appearance being last year when they hosted a round of 32 match against A-League outfit Western United, and they have previously reached the round of 16 twice (in 2016 and 2019).
The Lake Macquarie club are currently ranked fourth on the NPL NNSW table following seven wins, two draws and three losses so far this season and they boast the best defensive record in the competition, having only conceded nine goals in 12 games.
They are in red-hot form as they arrive in Inverell on a seven-game winning streak in the league, during which they have kept six clean sheets. That winning streak actually stands at nine games when their two Australia Cup preliminary round victories so far are factored in, and they are determined to extend that to 10 on Saturday.
However, the hosts will have plenty to say about that and they will certainly not go down without a fight.
Inverell are currently third on the NIPL Northern Conference table following four wins, two draws and just one loss so far in their return to the competition following back-to-back championships and one premiership in the Namoi Premier League competition across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
They have been playing some brilliant football this year and they are ready for the challenge of hosting one of Northern NSW Football’s premier clubs. Coach Schutz said they would not line up at full strength but would throw everything they have at a quality opposition outfit.
“We’re not looking too bad, but we’re not at full strength and there’s injury clouds hanging over a few blokes, and we’ll make that call (this morning) whether we play them or not,” the Inverell gaffer said.
“Our guys will give 100 per cent. They’re excited about the occasion and they know they’re going to be up against quality opposition. They’re looking forward to the experience.
“I’m really looking forward to it myself actually. It’s not every day you get to come up against a side like Edgeworth, especially in your own backyard.
“I’ve watched a few of their games. They control the ball well and there’s no use pressing them because they’ll run us around if we do that. They’re a quality opposition with quality players, and it’s going to be a tough game.
“We need to be patient, and we won’t get many opportunities but when we do we need to take them. That’s my key message to the guys. Patience is the key.”
The other three Northern NSW Football preliminary other round six matches will all be played at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday, with Broadmeadow Magic challenging Alstonville FC, Lambton Jaffas taking on Newcastle Croatia FC, and Newcastle Olympic and Charlestown Azzurri going head-to-head.
In round seven, winner of Inverell and Edgeworth will travel to take on the winner of Newcastle Olympic and Charlestown Azzurri, and the winner of Broadmeadow Magic and Alstonville will host the winner of Lambton Jaffas and Newcastle Croatia.
There are seven knockout rounds in total to decide the two NNSWF representatives that qualify for the national round of 32.
The two national round representatives will also play off in the NNSWF State Cup final to crown a NNSWF cup champion, and the best-performing community team from the Northern Zone will also face off against the best-performing community team from the Southern Zone for the Community State Plate.