By Mat Fox

Newcastle Jets Youth 1-1 Hamilton Olympic FC 

Newcastle Jets Youth and Hamilton Olympic played out a 1-1 draw at Darling Street Oval on Saturday with a goal coming on either side of the break. 

Radovan Pavicevic gave the Newcastle Jets Youth a deserved lead on the quarter hour mark after a bright start and only some great saves from Olympic goalkeeper Brad Swancott kept his side in contention early on. 

Hamilton Olympic needed to change things at half time and did just that, they got themselves back in the contest in the second half as Matt Swan finished nicely after being played in by David Hodgson. 

Both sides had a number of chances in the final moments but it ended all square at the end of 90 minutes. Hamilton Olympic again fighting well at home to salvage a point after being behind early on. 

Hamilton Olympic Coach Michael Bolch said “they had the better of it early on and probably had the better of play overall, but the chances evened out. We changed things at half time and came out better in the second; a draw is probably a fair result.” 

Newcastle Jets Youth returned to the top of the table holding a one point lead over Edgeworth Eagles who slipped up away to Adamstown Rosebud. They face the Eagles next weekend in a top of the table clash at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday. 

Hamilton Olympic faces South Cardiff away next week still remaining in third spot on the ladder.  

Adamstown Rosebud FC 1-0 Edgeworth FC 

Adamstown Rosebud handed Edgeworth its first defeat of the season with a 1-0 win at Adamstown Oval on Sunday.  

Matthew Comerford’s goal ten minutes before half time broke the deadlock as Edgeworth missed a penalty and were reduced to ten men in the second half failing the find the back of the net. 

Edgeworth started strongly and created a number of chances early on sending a number of deliveries across the penalty area but couldn’t take advantage of the early offensive pressure. 

Adamstown got back into the contest late in the half and Comerford’s goal gave them the lead going into the half time break. 

Midway through the second half Edgeworth had a chance to level the scores but Jesse Krncevic missed the target from the penalty spot and Aaron Pritchard received his second yard with ten minutes remaining as the visitors were reduced to ten men. 

Edgeworth pressed hard in the second half but Adamstown’s defence held strong at home as they held on for a significant win at home. 

Adamstown Coach Anthony Richards said “A result is a result but it was great to be the first side to beat them, you can tell why they are top of the table, they are a great side. Our defence was great in the second half as they pressed in the second half.” 

Adamstown remain in ninth spot on the ladder however just three points separate them from the top five in a tightly congested competition ladder.   

Adamstown Rosebud travel to face Broadmeadow Magic on Monday while Edgeworth has a top of the table clash against Newcastle Jets Youth at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday. 

Charlestown City Blues FC 3-3 Weston Workers FC 

Weston Workers fought back from a two goal deficit to salvage a point away to Charlestown City Blues in a six goal thriller at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday. 

Both sides got off to a flyer with the scores locked at 1-1 after 15 minutes before Charlestown City Blues took control late in the first half and came out on top holding a 3-1 lead just minutes after the half time break. 

However two Nathan Morris penalties late in the game gave the visitors an unlikely 3-3 draw away from home as they did well to fight back for a result. 

Kane Goodchild put Charlestown City Blues ahead after 12 minutes with a typical strikers finish in a congested area. 

Jamie Subat responded just two minutes later finishing his one on one opportunity nicely past Andrew Goldman in the Charlestown City goal. 

Troy Hearfield showed his class with a fantastic finish on 22 minutes to give his side a 2-1 lead, finishing nicely past Tim Pratt from a tight angle. 

Weston Workers needed to change things at the break but fell deeper in trouble just five minutes after as a defensive error gifted Scott Smith a goal who passed the ball across the goal line from 20 yards out to extend his sides lead to 3-1. 

Just when you thought there was no way back for Weston Workers they were given a chance on 62 minutes as Garry McDermott was brought down by Goldman after chasing a Jason Cowburn through ball, Morris stepped up to convert from the spot. 

The second came resulting from a corner when Brock Oakley’s initial shot was blocked and Jamie Subat was brought down going for the follow up on 85 minutes. Morris again stood up to the spot to blast the ball home to level the scores. 

Charlestown City Blues Coach Shane Pryce was left disappointed with the result and will go back to the drawing board to eradicate any errors letting his side down after a positive opening period. 

Weston Workers Coach Steve Piggott was pleased with how his side fought back to get a result away from home. 

Charlestown City Blues host Lambton Jaffas on Sunday while Weston Workers is away to Lake Macquarie City. 

Broadmeadow Magic FC 3-0 Lake Macquarie City FC 

Broadmeadow Magic entered the top five with their second win of the week as they defeated a ten man Lake Macquarie side 3-0 at Magic Park on Sunday. 

With some early chances going begging early on, Scott Pettit put the home side ahead after a nice cut back from Rhys Tippet, giving Broadmeadow Magic a 1-0 lead at half time. 

Sam Walker had a couple of chances for the visitors but missed the target from promising positions as Lake Macquarie City went in search of an equaliser. 

But things got worse for Lake Macquarie when Quinn Macneill was shown a red card for his sliding challenge on Hakan Canli and the visitors were reduced to ten men. 

Josh Paddington doubled his sides advantage heading home Scott Pettit’s corner as they continued to create chances in front of the Lake Macquarie goal. 

Lake Macquarie goalkeeper Nathan Archbald did well to parry away Murray Fletcher’s shot from the edge of the area while Rhys Tippet came close again, his shot bouncing off the post. 

It was Fletcher who turned provider late in the game as Pettit scored his second of the game and gave Broadmeadow Magic a comfortable 3-0 win in front of their home crowd. 

Broadmeadow Magic will host Adamstown Rosebud on Monday while Lake Macquarie City welcomes Weston Workers to Macquarie Field on Sunday.  

South Cardiff FC 2-3 Lambton Jaffas FC 

Lambton held on for a narrow win over South Cardiff at Ulinga Oval in an action packed final 20 minutes. 

The visitors held a 1-0 lead midway through the second half before the heavy rain started to fall along with the goals; a last minute Alex Palozzi goal gave them a 3-2 win with four goals coming in the final 15 minutes. 

Lambton Jaffas started promising in the opening half an hour and created several chances in front of goal. 

Luke Remington’s cross was headed home by Peter McPherson to give them the lead while Dino Fajkovic also came close with a one on one opportunity. 

South Cardiff fought back in the final 15 minutes and James Byrnes forced a good save from Lambton goalkeeper Danny Ireland late in the half.  

The second half was more of an even affair and certainly picked up in intensity late on. 

Lambton Jaffas was denied a penalty with what looked like a dangerous challenge on John Majurovski while moments later it was South Cardiff who was awarded a penalty after a cross was kicked into Denis Fajkovic’s arm from close range. 

Byrnes made no mistake from the spot and levelled the scores at 1-1 with 15 minutes remaining while Kale Bradbery restored the visitors lead with 10 minutes remaining. 

The lead didn’t last long as Mitchell Wallace was on hand to level the scores at 2-2 with five minutes remaining. 

Lambton Jaffas however secured all three points in injury time as Palozzi was on hand to finish after Bradbery’s one on one chance was deflected out to him and the visitors held on for a 3-2 win. 

Lambton Jaffas Coach David Tanchevski said “it was good to be on the right side of a last minute goal this time around, it wasn’t our best performance but we did enough, we have to kill games of when we have the chance, we almost didn’t do that today but did enough in the end.” 

Lambton Jaffas will face Charlestown City Blues on Sunday while South Cardiff welcomes Hamilton Olympic to Ulinga Oval.