NORTH Companions further cramped the race for the NECU Premier League finals with a three-goal win in Tamworth on Saturday, and were given a further helping hand by local rivals Oxley Vale Attunga.

A week after hurting Companions’ finals aspirations first hand, the Mushies three-goal win over South Armidale combined with Companions 3-1 success against East Armidale enabled them to move just a point off the Scorpions and into fourth place.

The win was equally valuable for the Mushies as they cleared out to outright second with a 3-nil result in Armidale, where the Reds also recorded a victory, knocking over Demon Knights 4-nil.

That also played into the Mushies’ hands with DK their nearest challengers for the major semi-final position.

The Reds shared the scoring honours with Tim Purser, Chris Kelly, Jason Boundy and John Hickey slotting goals.

“We played very well. They had some chances and we denied them, and we took our chances,” Reds coach John Edmunds said.

They stormed home in the second half with three strikes after Purser had given them a 1-nil lead.

Keeper Bill Vanry also aided the cause.

“He pulled off three brilliant saves in the last minute of the first half,” Edmunds said.

“We rode on that, saying lets deny them, and went on from there.”

Companions similarly held their opposition scoreless in the first half, carrying a 2-nil advantage into the break, which proved decisive with both sides hitting a goal a-piece in the second half.

“It was a valuable win, especially as now we’re only one point off fourth, and with 15 points still on offer,” Companions coach Darryl Smith said.

Tim Smith, Jarryd May and Caleb Richardson found the back of the net for the home side, but Smith felt the scoreline could have easily have been bigger with the last touch on several occasions just going astray.

“We had the ball for probably 80 per cent of the match, but we never finished right,” Smith said.

“But as a coach you’ve got to be happy with a win.”

Julian Kenda struck Easts lone goal.