Match of the Round
Alstonville FC 1-0 Moore Creek FC
Moore Creek FC coach Andrew Cygan was pleased with his side’s performance in round one of the UNE NNSW Regional Super League despite the 1-0 loss to Alstonville FC.
Both sides came out determined to kick off their UNE NNSW RSL campaign on a high but it was Alstonville who would score the only goal of the match in the 10th minute.
Seconds after the Mountain Goats were on the attack, Alstonville’s Eli Gambley launched the ball down the pitch.
Fast on the transition Charlie Collins got onto the end of the ball and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Callum Maughan as he came to the top of the penalty area. Collins calmly tapped the ball past Maughan and into the back of an empty net.
Alstonville hunted for a second goal in the first half but outstanding saves by Maughan kept his side’s hopes alive.
The Mountain Goats came out stronger in the second half and looked hopeful to equalise but Alstonville proved too strong and prevailed 1-0.
“It was really pleasing [the match] as weird as it sounds. Despite losing 1-0 I think we all agreed that we should all be positive in the result. We had a real good crack at it and we were unlucky to not get one and maybe take it to penalties,” Cygan said.
“I think it was a good reaction [to conceding] because personally I was worried if they got an early goal that we would collapse and it'd be an embarrassment. We just wanted to come away with our heads held high.
“The goal they scored it was just us switching off for that split second and then it was just impossible to get back. But then we played 80 minutes after that and we had to dig deep in the first half.
“In the second half I think we just came out so much stronger and confident and I really felt like we dominated. I'd be happy to say Alstonvile was definitely better in the first half and I feel we were definitely better in the second half.”
Cygan was determined to take his knowledge from round one and secure a win in round two.
“I think it's just a case of learning from this. There are a few things that we spoke about before the match and we've just got to make sure we carry them into the game and just stick with that,” Cygan said.
“Like stick with the formation and stick with the way we've been asked to play. Next game it will be a different formation and we will be going out for a win.”
Alstonville FC coach Andrea Zubani was thrilled his side secured all three points but acknowledged they still had room for improvement.
“The game was good. We got the win and that's what we want it. [It] put us in a good spot for round two that’s coming up in a few months,” Zubani said.
“I think with the game and the two halves, the first half was the better one for us. We had a few chances to score another goal and then in the second half we kind of lost our way a bit.
“We were pretty solid defensively and the last 10 to 15 minutes I was a bit on edge because they were kind of pushing to get the equaliser but we managed to keep them at bay.
“I definitely think there's still a lot of room for improvement both in an attacking sense and on the defensive side of things as well but it was massive [to win]. Going off with a win, especially with such a big gap in between the games, I thought it was really important and I'm really happy that we did and the boys are too.”
Alstonville sit in the top spot of the Men’s Group A table on equal points with Coffs City United, whom they will go head-to-head with at home in round two.
Moore Creek are equal third with cross-town rivals Oxley Vale Attunga, who they will welcome to Gipps Street Sporting Fields in round two.
Byron Bay FC 0-1 Port Saints
Byron Bay FC coach Ben Ahern believes his side can hold their heads high after their 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Port Saints in round one of the UNE NNSW Regional Super League.
Both teams fought hard in the first half, with Port Saints aiming to protect their championship title while Byron Bay hoped to celebrate their debut with a victory.
Despite their best efforts neither side could break the deadlock and went into the sheds at half-time all locked up 0-0.
The battle continued as the second half kicked off and it appeared the match would remain level as neither side was willing to back down.
But Port Saints broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when a quick throw-in caught Byron Bay off guard.
Zachary Ilijoski received the ball to the right of the penalty area, weaved his way through the Byron Bay defenders and fired it past goalkeeper Marcus Gibbs into the back of the net.
Byron Bay pushed for an equaliser as the physical contest continued but were unable to break down the tough Saints defence.
Port Saints extended their undefeated streak from 2025, holding on for a 1-0 victory when the final whistle blew.
“It was excellent. I was super stoked with the boys, they played really well,” Ahern said.
“I didn't really have too much expectation of winning the game, to be honest, with the reserves team I took. It was just about giving those young kids the experience and sort of just set the tone for the year.
“I thought they held themselves well. [Port Saints] were quite a physical team and certainly weren't shying away from the contact, so I thought the young guys sort of didn't shy away from it either.
“[We] were contained in their game and I would like to see them just get out there and make a mistake a little bit more. There were a few times where they passed the ball back rather than getting at them. I just need to build their confidence with that.”
Despite the loss Ahern believed the game was not as hard as it could have been.
“[Port Saints] mid-blocked at best and basically dropped into their own half for pretty much 90 minutes, so there wasn't much pressure to play out,” Ahern said.
“When we needed to reset, we could just drop the ball back and relieve any intensity, so they didn't really come at us in the game.
“I think if it had been a team that was kind of trying to go for it, it would have been a lot harder.”
Port Saints sit alone at the top of the Men’s Group B table and will welcome Northern Storm to Peter Martino Field in round two.
Byron Bay sit fourth on the table but are only one point behind their round two opponents Inverell FC.
Coffs City United 1-0 Oxley Vale Attunga
Coffs City United kicked off their UNE NNSW Regional Super League campaign on a high when they downed Oxley Vale Attunga 1-0 on Saturday morning.
It was an end-to-end contest from the first whistle as both teams were determined to secure a win in their UNE NNSW RSL debut.
But it took Coffs City United only 12 minutes to break the deadlock and score the only goal of the game.
The Lions’ William Hodgson ran onto a miscalculated OVA pass at the top of the box and calmly sliced it between an OVA defender’s legs, underneath goalkeeper Daniel Snider and into the back of the net.
The bad luck continued for OVA in the 15th minute after Snider collided with a Lions defender as both put their bodies on the line in the box.
Snider received a knee to the forehead, which resulted in a large gash. Snider was able to walk off the field independently.
Both teams worked hard to add another goal but strong defensive pressure kept the score 1-0 when the final whistle blew.
The win sits Coffs City United equal first alongside Alstonville FC on the Men’s Group A table, while OVA are equal third with Moore Creek FC.
The Lions will look to keep the good times rolling when they face Alstonville in round two while OVA will go head-to-head with Moore Creek as both sides hunt for their first win.
Northern Storm 2-2 Inverell FC
Northern Storm and Inverell FC continued their rivalry as the two sides could not be separated in their 2-2 draw in round one of the UNE NNSW Regional Super League on Saturday afternoon.
It was Inverell who struck first when Alex Kaku had the opening attempt. His shot was off target but instead found Sam Burns.
Burns tapped the ball into the box and found Brent Pedlow, who amongst the scrap of Storm players found the back of the net in the 28th minute.
Inverell held onto the 1-0 lead until half-time but Northern Storm quickly equalised in the second half.
A scrappy block by Kaku sent the ball into the penalty area and to Thomas Sweeney who wasted no time to head the ball into the goal in the 46th minute.
The two sides appeared inseparable until the 72nd minute when the Storm netted their second.
Benjamin Dove sailed a free kick into the box and found Hameed Edo who attempted to head the ball into the goal.
The ball went to the left of the net and an unmarked James Tial tapped the scraps past goalkeeper Ryan Burns.
Northern Storm appeared to be taking home all three points but a long-range shot from the sideline by Inverell’s Jonathan Arandale sailed past goalkeeper Lex Weiley to equalise in the 84th minute.
Despite both teams working hard to find a third the two sides could not be separated when the full-time whistle blew.
In accordance with the UNE NNSW RSL rules and regulations both sides were awarded one point for the draw but undertook a penalty shootout to determine who received a bonus point.
It was Northern Storm who stayed calm under the pressure and walked away with two points after beating Inverell 5-3 on penalties.
Northern Storm will now face reigning champions Port Saints away from home in round two, while Inverell will go head-to-head with new kids on the block Byron Bay FC at home.