Eight (8) regional teams in Northern NSW will compete in Northern NSW Football’s (NNSWF) FFA Cup Regional Qualifying Weekend this Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May at the C.ex International Stadium, Coffs Harbour.
The Regional Qualifiers will determine two (2) regional clubs to advance to the FFA Cup Round of 32 Qualifying Weekend (Round 6 and 7) at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on June 9 and 10.
The four regional zones which will be represented include Football Mid North Coast (FMNC), Northern Inland Football (NIF), North Coast Football (NCF) and Football Far North Coast (FFNC).
From the LIVE draw, both FMNC clubs, Kempsey Saints and Port United, were drawn out against NCF clubs, Boambee Bombers and Urunga Raiders.
Kempsey will take on the Bombers who sit top of the NCF Premier League with 4 wins and a draw from their 5 League games. Their Cup run has seen them defeat Orara Valley (9-1) and Coffs United (3-1) to book their place in this weekend’s qualifiers. The Saints have been in decent form in the FMNC Premier League despite 2 losses from their 4 games. Their road to the Cup qualifiers has seen them defeat Wauchope (2-1) and Port Saints (3-2).
Urunga Raiders and Port United will go head to head at the same time beside their fellow league competitors. The Raiders sit in second place by goal difference behind Boambee, whilst Port United sit in first place after 4 FMNC Premier League first grade games. In the Cup, Urunga has defeated Westlawn Tigers (6-1) and Coffs Coast Tigers (4-1) to set up this weekend’s clash with United. In the Cup, United have beaten Wallamba FC (6-0) and Wallis Lake in a thriller (5-3).
In the second matchups in the afternoon on Saturday, both FFNC clubs Goonellabah and Bangalow will take on NIF clubs, Demon Knights and Tamworth FC.
Goonellabah will face Demon Knights who will be making a second attempt at progressing in the FFA Cup Regional Qualifying weekend. Demon Knights will be going in as favourites in this match as they are sitting in a comfortable second place within the NIF Premier League compared to the bottom of the table for Goonellabah in the FFNC Men’s Premier Division. However, in the Cup Goonellabah have had decent luck in their FFA Cup campaign having a BYE in the first round and beating Lismore Thistles in penalties. The Knights defeated Moree Services (2-0) and secured their Round 4 spot also by penalties against Oxley Vale Attunga.
At the same time going head to head for the last match of the day on Saturday, Bangalow will take on Tamworth FC. Bangalow (sitting in 6th spot in FFNC Men’s Premier Division) will be hoping to advance to the Round of 32 Qualifying Weekend after only missing out last year going down 3-0 to Coffs City United (NCF); whilst this will be the first time Tamworth FC will have made it this far but are sitting on top of the NIF Premier League ladder. In the cup, Bangalow has had a strong campaign beating Casino RSM Cobras (8-1) and Lennox Head (2-0). Tamworth FC also has had a solid trip to the FFA Cup Round 4 beating Armidale City Westside (9-0) and North Companions (2-1).
Round 5 Draw will take place at the conclusion of fixtures on Saturday 13th May at C.ex Coffs International Stadium. The draw will also be streamed live on the NNSWF Facebook Page. The four winning teams from Round 4 will be placed into the pot & drawn out in accordance with the FFA Cup Regulations.
Catch the FFA Cup Regional Qualifying Weekend’s half-time and full-time results LIVE on NNSWF’s Twitter channel @nnswf.
