By Mat Fox

Lambton Jaffas 1 – 2 Weston Workers

Weston Workers maintained its undefeated start to the season with a 2-1 win over Lambton Jaffas at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday.

The result was Lambton’s second loss at home in as many matches, giving Weston Workers its second away win as they join Hamilton Olympic on top of the ladder.

The visitors started strong and almost took the lead in the opening minutes when Jamie Subat got in behind the defence, but he couldn’t get his final shot on target.

They didn’t have to wait much longer though and Jason Cowburn gave his side the advantage in the 8th minute heading home at the back post from Liam Thornton’s cross.

John Majurovski was looking lively on the ball and sent some dangerous left footed shots on goal however it was the visitors that held a one goal advantage going into the half time break.

Weston Workers missed a number of great opportunities after the restart to double their advantage with some point blank saves from Ireland and poor finishing leaving the Bears frustrated again in front of goal.

They would be made to pay for their missed opportunities as Jobe Wheelhouse levelled the scores in the 68th minute, marking his second appearance of the season with a nice finish after advancing into the eighteen yard box.

It was short lived however and moments later the Bears restored their lead after substitute Jye McKellar was brought down inside the box and Jamie Subat stepped up the convert from the spot in the 75th minute.

Weston Workers Coach Steve Piggott praised McKellar for his second half performance and said “he added some spark and changed the game when he came on”, continuing his impressive form this season as Piggott continues to find the right mix between experience along with harnessing young talent.

Lambton Coach David Tanchevski said his side “needs to improve, that’s twice in three games we have got it back to 1-1 and conceded a minute later after equalising, our emphasis now will be to tighten up at the back.”

With Broadmeadow Magic, Hamilton Olympic and Edgeworth in their next three fixtures Tanchevski knows his side has their work cut out for them and will look for a solid performance as they return home again next week in a grand final rematch against Broadmeadow Magic.

Weston Workers themselves have Hamilton Olympic and Edgeworth in the next two matches and return home next week looking to continue their good start to the season in a top of the table clash.

Edgeworth FC 7 – 0 Charlestown City Blues

Edgeworth Eagles recorded its first win of the season and provided a shocking result with a 7-0 drubbing of Charlestown City Blues at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Friday night.

Spanish import Hector Mendez scored a double while Bren Hammel also bagged a brace as the home side ran rampant in front of goal against an under strength Charlestown City Blues side .

The visitors were forced to bring an inexperienced side to Jack McLaughlan Oval missing eight players out of the squad of twenty, and six of those players were from the starting eleven.

Charlestown City Blues Coach Shane Pryce said “that’s no excuse, our preparation wasn’t great coming into the match but Edgeworth took their chances and gave us a lesson.”

Edgeworth held a 2-0 lead at the half time break with an own goal and a goal to Mendez, Charlestown still believing they could come out strong and get a goal to fight their way back into proceedings but Edgeworth were far dominant at home.

Edgeworth Coach Gary Wilson said “I thought we were very good but Charlestown was massively under strength so not getting carried away with the win. All our focus will be on the Jets Youth who have been very sharp and were excellent against us in the abandoned game, we have been defensively solid and will have to combat the possession the Jets hold but we are improving in the final third each week and will hopefully take that into the game.”

Charlestown City Blues will look to pick themselves up as they return home next week to face Adamstown Rosebud while Edgeworth Eagles will look to continue its positive attacking form in the rescheduled match against Newcastle Jets Youth tomorrow night before travelling away to Lake Macquarie City.

Broadmeadow Magic 0 – 1 Newcastle Jets Youth

Newcastle Jets Youth recorded its second win of the season with a 1-0 win over Broadmeadow Magic at Wanderers Oval on Saturday leaving the premiers winless.

A Brandon Lundy goal separated the sides on the score sheet as both sides created chances, the Jets Youth probably having the better of the opening exchanges with Bowling again providing some quality saves.

The visitors gained their advantage in just the opening minutes when Josh Piddington failed to clear the ball ten yards out and fell to the striker’s feet, Lundy making no mistake with an open goal in sight.

Nick Cowburn could only watch as another one of his free kicks bounced back off the cross bar moments later.

Bowling came out to deny Lundy with a great exhibition of goal keeping in a one on one opportunity while Piddington headed narrowly wide at the back post from a Chris Berlin corner trying to redeem his earlier mistake.

Broadmeadow had chances in the second half with Peter Haynes’s header going across goal and then had a one on one opportunity but couldn’t find his way around Newcastle Jets Youth goalkeeper John Solari.

Broadmeadow Magic Coach Glen Chapman said his side “still hasn’t quite clicked yet” and got punished for turning over the ball. While they produced a more positive second half they failed to take their chances in the final third and will be looking forward to get things right when they travel to Arthur Edden Oval to face Lambton Jaffas on Friday in our match of the round.

Newcastle Jets Youth will face Edgeworth Eagles tomorrow night in its rescheduled round one fixture before facing a hungry South Cardiff outfit at Ulinga Oval on Sunday.

Hamilton Olympic 4 – 1 Lake Macquarie City

Hamilton Olympic went top of the NPL ladder with a convincing 4-1 win over last placed Lake Macquarie City at Darling Street Oval on Monday.

A first half double from David Hodgson gave the home side a comfortable 2-0 lead at the half time break while Pat Brown added two of his own in the second as Hamilton Olympic put four past their opposition for the second consecutive time at Darling Street Oval.

Both of Hodgson’s goals came from the penalty spot where he stepped up to convert both chances beautifully inside the upright.

Curtis Schumann found himself alone in front of goal with two headed opportunities after going a goal down, the first went narrowly wide and the second was saved comfortably by Olympic goalkeeper Brad Swancott.

Down the other end and Nathan Archbold provided a top class save to tip Rhys Coopers shot over the cross bar, timing his shot well from the edge of the area after a short free kick.

Lake Macquarie City handed themselves some misfortune when defender Jarrod Olivieri handled the ball at the back post from a corner allowing Hodgson to double his tally and the advantage just before the half time break.

The visitors had more misfortune in the second half as they were reduced to ten men when Jake Kepreotes was shown his second yellow card and marching orders midway through the second half.

They still managed to test the home side on the counter attack and pulled one back to make the score line 2-1 before second half substitute Brown added two goals to boost the final score line out to 4-1.

Hamilton Olympic Coach Michael Bolch was “happy with the three points” again at home but knows his side were still tested at the back despite the final score line looking more flattering for his side in the end.

Hamilton Olympic will now travel to Weston Workers in a top of the table clash between two unbeaten sides while Lake Macquarie City will face Edgeworth Eagles at Macquarie Field looking for things to go their way.

Adamstown Rosebud 3 – 2 South Cardiff

Adamstown Rosebud recorded its first win in the NPL in dramatic fashion coming from behind to defeat South Cardiff 3-2 at Adamstown Oval on Monday.

The visitors held a 1-0 lead going into the half time break before Adamstown fought back in the second, a double from Nick Bale and last minute winner giving the Rosebuds a historic win.

Daniel Johnson scored his second goal of the season and gave the visitors the lead after just five minutes capitalising from a corner that wasn’t cleared.

The home side were fortunate to only be a goal behind with South Cardiff on top in the opening exchanges, some close chances and good saves from Scott Carter in the Adamstown goal keeping them in the contest.

Adamstown worked themselves back in the game late in the half and struck the woodwork twice through a Greg Mudd header and a Nick Bale long range effort but still maintained a one goal deficit going into the half time break.

Two goals in quick succession after the break to Adamstown striker Nick Bale put them back in the contest and gave the home side a one goal advantage early in the second half.

Bale’s first was a tap in from ten yards after Dean Holt made a blistering run down the right hand side to square the ball back across goal.

Bale got his second and gave his side the lead moments later after Abe Wheelhouse released him in space on the edge of the area, Bale did well to control and place his shot nicely in the bottom corner past Michael Stafford in the South Cardiff goal.

South Cardiff levelled the scores through James Byrnes finishing nicely after some fantastic passing exchanges through the centre of midfield carved through the Rosebud defence.

The Gunners had the chance to restore their lead from the spot with ten minutes remaining after being awarded a penalty but Jarryd Johnson missed the target with his attempt.

It was to be proved costly after Steve Rospigliosi’s goal in the final stages gave Adamstown Rosebud a hard fought 3-2 win in front of their home crowd.

Adamstown Rosebud Coach Anthony Richards said his side “showed a lot of heart” in the hard fought win and knows it will give his playing group confidence moving into next week when they face Charlestown City Blues at Lisle Carr Oval.

South Cardiff host Newcastle Jets Youth at Ulinga Oval on Sunday still chasing their first win in the competition.