The Alstonville FC Men’s Premier League team has booked a place in the 2026 Men’s Regional Super League Final.
Villa was too strong for Inverell FC, winning 5-1 in the first of two men’s semi-finals contested on the Coffs Harbour synthetic pitches on Saturday 18th July. The match was moved from Crawford Park, Alstonville in response to the adverse conditions that left almost every field in this region closed.
Striker Josh Cole was at his scheming best, scoring his obligatory goal and the Inverell FC defence were unable to shut the attack of Villa down, with Jonathon King scoring a treble and Eli Gambley also getting on the scoreboard. The Villa defence and midfield were also effective, as the players adapted well to playing on the synthetic, also in windy conditions, in a solid team performance, that saw reliable keeper Ben Hudson, rarely tested.
Head coach Andrea Zubani was happy with seeing the team progress to the Final, but recognises that success in this competition will be based on a win in the decider and that is now the focus. Villa will meet Tamworth team Moore Creek FC in the Final that will be played at the Coffs synthetic facility on Saturday 8th August.
The Villa Women’s Premier League team was a little off the pace in its semi-final, going down 0-4 to a strong Lake Cathie team.
The Regional Super League competition was created in 2025 by Northern NSW Football and has evolved further this year. An invitation was extended by Northern NSW Football to the two highest ranked men’s teams and two highest ranked women’s teams from each of the four regional zones to compete in a round-robin format that will culminate with the respective winners for 2026 being crowned on 8th August.
All the best to the Villa lads as they represent their club and this region in the Final on 8th August.
