Goals galore as Northern NSW preliminary rounds reach business end
We’re down to the final eight teams in Northern NSW after the Southern Conference Round 5 fixtures were completed this week.
And in one of the matches of the preliminary rounds in Northern NSW, Kahibah FC booked their spot in the last eight with an incredible 5-4 win over Cessnock City Hornets.
Despite trailing 2-0 early on, Kahibah scored three goals to hit the front only for the visitors to respond and force extra-time.
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Both sides scored in the extra period before Sean Greene scored the ninth and decisive goal in the 117th minute to send Kahibah through and complete a cup classic.
In reaching the quarters, Kahibah have become the first Northern League One team to progress to the State Qualifiers since 2016.
There were also plenty of goals at Cook Square Park as Maitland FC knocked out last year’s Round of 32 participants Charlestown City Blues 4-3 thanks to a Joel Wood double.
Broadmeadow Magic are closing in on a fifth appearance in the FFA Cup Round of 32 after beating fellow Northern NSW NPL powerhouse Lambton Jaffas 2-1 after extra-time.
Jarrod Baker was the hero for the Magic, scoring the winner in the second half of extra-time to edge past the 10-man Jaffas, who had Braedyn Crowley sent-off not long after scoring his side’s equaliser.
Elsewhere, Valentine Phoenix needed a penalty shootout to get past the Weston Bears after scores were locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes.
Hamilton Olympic and Edgeworth Eagles dispelled lower-league opponents, with Olympic putting 11 unanswered goals past Warners Bay FC.
In the ‘Battle of the Eagles’, Edgeworth picked up a tidy 2-0 victory moving onto the State Qualifiers for the fifth straight year by beating New Lambton.
The six Southern Conference winners now join Northern Conference teams Boambee Bombers and Bangalow Bluedogs as the last eight teams in the State Qualifiers.
Those ties will be played over the June long weekend (8th-10th), as we get down to the two teams that will represent Northern NSW in this year’s FFA Cup Round of 32.
The Round 6 Quarter Final Draw will be held LIVE on the Northern NSW Facebook channel on Monday 27 May at 12.30pm.
