NCF and Newcastle are the two top-ranked teams in the Youth League competition and met on a hot day in Taree on Saturday in a one-off match to decide who will carry the Northern NSW name to Melbourne next month.

The match was played in unseasonably warm conditions, but being 15 and fit, none of the players in either squad was going to take it easy, so the game was played at a furious pace.

NCF went behind early to a well-constructed Newcastle goal in the 15th minute, however, NCF restored parity just before the break through a set piece.

NCF was awarded a corner in the 30th minute which was taken expertly by Riley Dillon.

It flew flat to the far post where Jacob Hughes rose to meet it. ‘Hughesy’ pulled off an exquisite header, which found the back of the net.

The second half was hot and hard as the match grew into a midfield battle.

The NCF middle three of Kale Teece, Tom Gardiner and Jacob Hughes were outstanding. They ran for the ball all day, stole possession regularly and fed the forward line wherever possible, creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

Newcastle, however, is not easy to score against and battled hard throughout.

Newcastle nearly secured victory with just seconds on the clock remaining as a thunderbolt strike zeroed in on the net.

NCF’s man with the gloves, Tom Sherwood, then produced the save of the match with a diving outstretched right arm which tipped the ball over the bar.

Tom’s day was about to get even better.

The fulltime whistle went even before the corner could be taken and with no extra time being played under the rules of the day, it was straight to kicks from the penalty mark.

Newcastle kicked first and both teams successfully converted their first two attempts.