NCF came away with three wins and one loss, with an average of six goals scored per game.

16 years girls

Macquarie 1 lost to NCF 6

First to kick-off was the 16 years girls’ team who came away with a thumping win, although the game was only finished off late in the second half.

Coach Rachael Oberleuter used the 4-3-3 formation to great effect with, Northern NSW squad members Jasmin Courtenay on the right and Kellie Langham on the left.

Joining them up front was Jessica Gunning in the new role of central striker.

The team also welcomed 13-year-old goalkeeper Georgia Allen and 12-year-old Hope Eadie to the squad.

The match was only three minutes old when Jasmin Courtenay scored the opener, but it was answered two minutes later by a rather soft goal which, although well struck by the Macquarie striker, should have been dealt with.

The first time Georgia Allen touched the ball was when she picked it out of the back of the net.

In fact, that was the only touch she got on the ball for the first 30 minutes of the match, such was the dominance of NCF in the first half.

Most of the players in either team were equal to their opposite number, but NCF’s front three were unstoppable.

Courtenay and Langham, in particular, made regular raids down the flanks and crossed the ball at will.

This created wave after wave of scoring chances and kept the game pretty much in Macquarie’s half of the field.

Georgia Allen took a knee in the ribs during one save late in the first half which caused a few nervous moments.

NCF had just lost keeper Alannah Rosewood the week before to a dislocated knee and the keeper cupboard is getting a bit bare.

However, Georgia carried on, nursing the injury through the 10 minutes either side of halftime when the game hung in the balance.

After oranges, NCF took the match away from Macquarie.

The Macquarie keeper suffered a similar knock which took the edge off her game, although she had played well under fire.

Another Macquarie player was carried off with what looked to be a serious knee injury. Everyone at NCF wishes her a speedy recovery.

The second half was all NCF, although the heat started taking a toll on both teams.

Jasmin Courtenay finished the match with a haul of four goals and Jessica Gunning two.

13 years boys

Macquarie 6 dNCF 1

Macquarie Football managed to completely reverse the result of the first match of the day with a 6-1 win over NCF 13 years boys.

NCF was under the pump from the get go, with four goals scored in the opening 15 minutes, a baptism of fire for the NCF boys who were playing their first match together in the Youth League.

Macquarie is a confident and well-drilled side and immediately took the game to the NCF side with fast attacking play.

NCF was probably not expecting the early onslaught and for the first quarter of the game was unsettled and played without confidence.

As the game progressed NCF was able to gain composure and as a result began to play a much more competitive game.

The lads were able, at times, to create opportunities and pressured the home side with determination and growing confidence.

The second half produced three goals, two for Macquarie and one for NCF.

Plenty of work to do, but once the boys “found their feet”, they all played well and showed signs of things to come.

Nick Coulson and Ben Sonter were strong in defence, Judd Duncan worked tirelessly and Max Peltonen was the lone goal scorer.

The first step for the lads on steep learning curve.

14 years boys

Macquarie 2 lost to NCF 4

The highly rated NCF 14 boys' team was still licking its wounds after the second half mauling Far Nth Coast gave it in a pre-season trial two weeks ago.

This was to be a different result.

NCF opened the scoring directly from the kick-off with a pre-planned move which has given coach Al Courtenay a grin which should last a week.

The move was finished off by Will 'Puskas' Aranyi, who provided the perfect header for a goal just seconds after the match started.

This rattled Macquarie as NCF was already one up before they could settle into the match.

Macquarie followed this up with a defensive error that saw Zack 'Gyro' Smith intercept and net in the 12th minute.

The entire team, including fill-in under-13 Judd Duncan (who had just played in the 13s match), dominated their opposing player, which led to several more good chances, but it would be Macquarie who scored next through a fine header at the far post.

NCF led 2-1 at the break.

There would be three more goals to come in the second half before the game was decided.

It was Zack just minutes into the half to score a goal of a true marksman with a left-foot volley.

To Macquarie's credit it responded immediately with a break down the left and again reduced the deficit to one.

NCF, having played the more superior brand of football, was justly rewarded with five minutes remaining when Zack rounded the keeper to complete his hat-trick and top off a magnificent opener to the season.

15 years boys

Macquarie 0 last to NCF 4

The NCF 15 boys were the only squad to keep the opposition scoreless on the day.

It was a dominant performance from a team expected to deliver big things this year. And they are starting to make a habit of scoring four goals a game.

The onslaught began early. Lachlan Moye’s right-hand side cross was headed in by Jerry Whish-Wilson after one minute.

This lead was doubled at 16 minutes when Jerry scored again.

Three minutes after a very short half-time break, Mathew Logan scored after capitalising on a slight defensive error by Macquarie.

Macquarie came back after this and thanks to the first of three brilliant Thomas Sherwood saves, NCF kept a clean sheet.

Eighteen minutes into the second half Jerry Whish-Wilson’s pivoting left foot goal was his third and best for the match.

Despite cramps and a full injury bench, NCF kept its shape and won 4-0 with a complete team effort.

Round 3

NCF heads to Armidale this Saturday for its second match of the season against Northern Inland Football.