NORTHERN Inland got halfway to a great day in the State Youth League on Sunday with the under 13s winning, the 14s drawing and the 15s going down narrowly to Hunter at Tamworth’s Federation Park.

The 13s started the day well with a 1-nil success with Travis Beard scoring the one goal.

There could have been a few others though.

“It was a good victory,” coach Gavin Thompson said.

“We played well but we were just a bit weak in front of goal.

“When we got an opportunity we just couldn’t finish it off.

“It was one of the best games we’ve played all year but in front of goal let us down.

“The defence was very strong.”

Thompson said Nathan Hewitt was probably the pick of his side.

“He played everywhere,” he said.

“He was at right wing in the middle so he was in attack and defence.

“That was the system we had going and he did the role well.”

NI is now certain to finish in the top three and has a few weeks to pinch a top two spot but has a tough double header next weekend.

The under 14s also need to win next week but a point from its 2-all draw with Hunter will help their finals chances.

“It’s the best we’ve played in the past three weeks,” coach Wayne May said.

“A couple of long-range shots from them and goal-keeper errors cost us two goals but in the second half we dominated.

“We put it together today, especially in the second half.

“Our passing and work off the ball was a lot better.

“Sterling Wylie scored both goals and they were good, individual goals too.”

May said Dylan May controlled things well from the middle, Daniel Lockeridge was strong at the back and Wylie created plenty of chances up front.

“We have to win probably three out of our next five or six,” May said.

“We would have been third if we’d won today but it didn’t happen.

“We’ve got a double header next weekend at Macquarie and then Port Macquarie.

“Three points out of next weekend would be handy but it’ll be tough.”

The under 15s showed how far they have come in recent weeks with a 2-1 loss.

“We played really well,” coach Dave Sweeney said.

“Four weeks ago we had to find four to six new players and it’s been a steep learning curve but they’ve played well.

“They’re feeling pretty positive about themselves.”

He said Marshall Henderson, goal-scorer Scott Straub and new players Jason Urquhart, Lachlan Giblett and Brandon Taylor were among his side’s best.

The Macquarie game is a catch-up fixture from earlier in the year and will be played on Saturday with a further trip up the road – to Port Macquarie – for all three sides on

Sunday.