South Armidale pulled off one of the upsets of the Northern Inland Premier League season on Saturday with a 3-1 win over the North Armidale Redmen at Phil Wheaton Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Redmen have been the leading Armidale team for the majority of the 2014 season, but may have found themselves out-enthused by a South team desperate for a win.
South remain in fifth place in the northern conference after the win, but it puts them within three points of third place.
“I loved it, fantastic win,” South coach Ruwan Cooper said.
“That’s the best result we’ve had this season. We had to fight to get it, but we got it.”
The three South goals came from three men sharing the same last name.
Jamie Wright opened the scoring 10 minutes in with a brilliant header from a cross into the box.
It appeared the scores would be levelled up only five minutes later when the Redmen were awarded a penalty, but man of the match Richard Morris produced a sensational save to keep South in the lead.
South skipper Ben Wright kicked home a penalty leading
into half time to give his side a
2-nil lead. The Redmen came out firing early in the second half, but it was South who struck first through Paul Wright to give the visitors an unassailable 3-nil buffer.
North got one back late but the damage had already been inflicted and the South celebration was underway.
“They are our biggest rivals, so the boys get up for the match and there’s always a massive crowd,” Cooper said.
“The boys played really well.
“I was confident heading into half time, but we knew they wouldn’t lay down in the second half.”
Cooper was full of praise for his in form keeper Morris.
“He pulled off a lot of outstanding saves,” he said.
South travel west this weekend to tackle Gunnedah United.
“They are always tough at home,” Cooper said.
“We have to keep winning every week from here on in.”
East Armidale were the only other local side in action and they thrashed the lowly Guyra side 5-nil.