It has been five months between football games, but solid defence and overall fitness played to the advantage of The Armidale School's First XI, who defeated Carinya Christian School in a close second round match of the Independent Schools' Associations' Football Cup in Tamworth.
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The win - in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the bell - replicated the result of the previous round in the knockout competition, when TAS narrowly defeated Calrossy Anglican School on February 27.
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The hosts had the upper hand early on and scored in the first 15 minutes, knocking the confidence of the highland team who had been conceding the field of play in their own half from the start.
"We regained our momentum at that point and really built on that," said captain Stuart Epworth, who equalled the score in the final minutes of the game with a header into the net off a corner taken by Mehdi Ahsan.
"The rules of the comp meant it was then down to a penalty shootout, which we took the best of five."
TAS coach Richard Newton said Ryan Oschadleus' performance in the goal was outstanding.
Oschadleus saved three penalties: one during regular time and two in the shootout.
TAS meets Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School from Tweed Heads in the third round of the knockout.
"It was just so good to be back on the field. Hopefully, after two away games, that will be a home game on (TAS) Adamsfield, and soon," Epworth said.
TAS side in the clash against Carinya was Remy Taylor, Isaiah Ruming, Benjamin Simmonds, Lachlan Galbraith, Ryan Oschadleus (goalie), Jack Van Roy, Xavier Walsh, Cotter Litchfield, Jaden Carroll, Andrew Kirk, Stuart Epworth, Mehdi Ahsan, Louis Cannington, Colby Hanes, Toby Smith and Mac Orr.
