Northern League One: Strikers on-tune at Kahibah Oval; Eagles find first season win in 9-goal blitz | photos

The Strikers remain in the hunt for finals football in their campaign after the 3-2 victory over Kahibah, and now sit equal on points with fourth-placed West Wallsend.

It took only four minutes for the travelling side to stamp their authority on the match, with Joe Civello opening the scoring.

Minutes later the home side replied, however, with Brady Carr levelling the score. From there the Strikers took control of the half, first scoring after a defensive mistake put Hayden Nicol in with a chance he slotted home, and then Nathan Hall doubled the lead with a penalty.

The home side managed another goal in the second half off the back of an individual flash of brilliance from Brandon Hayes as he rounded Corey Cleaver between Singleton’s sticks and put Kahibah back into the match.

It was the only goal of the second half however, with Jye Hodson having a late chance saved by Cleaver to make up for his earlier miss-step.

Singleton’s coach David Willoughby was pleased with the result, but said in the post-match interview he felt the team was “lucky to come away with the three points”.

“We didn’t manage the game, we panicked a little bit. Andre [Gumprecht] changed things a little bit in the second half and we struggled to cope. We’re a big work in progress.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, South Cardiff claimed a major victory as they held off last year’s champions to earn a 2-1 win at Ulinga Oval. Nathan McCallister and Daniel Bartlett scored for the victorious Gunners.

Hakan Canli had opened the scoring in the match for the Cookers, but was also shown a red card in the second half after kicking South Cardiff’s player-coach Denis Fajkovic while he was on the ground.

The next day saw West Wallsend move into a top four position after stringing three straight victories together.

Their third win came at the expense of the undefeated Cessnock City team – now not so untouchable. Jarrod Olivieri scored first for the Bluebells, before City’s Brad York answered back.

It was a free kick, just metres inside the half, from Brad Andrews that proved the difference as the long-ranged volley found the back of the net and ended Cessnock’s undefeated start to the season.

Also, the Thornton Redbacks defeated Belmont-Swansea off the back of three unanswered goals from Jye MacKeller, Luke Lambert and Trent Partridge, while New Lambton notched their first win of the season in a 9-goal blitz at Alder Park.

The Eagles led 3-2 at half time off the back of goals from Luke Jovcesvki, Riley Taylor and Kieran Quadrelli. Justin Maddalena added a fourth with a long-ranged effort in the second half, while club captain Nick Pepper bagged the fifth late on.

The Stags’ four goals came from an own goal, a double for Jarrod Penfold and an extra from Josh Bruce, but it wasn’t enough for the travelling Toronto Awaba side.

Wallsend FC had the bye.

League One Table: Cooks Hill (12), Thornton (11), West Wallsend (10), Wallsend (9), Singleton (9), Cessnock (8), South Cardiff (7), Toronto Awaba (5), Kahibah (4), Belmont Swansea (4), New Lambton (3)