By Blake Jarrett

Newcastle Jets Youth 2 def. Lambton Jaffas FC 1
Arthur Edden Oval
Sunday 3rd August 2.45pm
Match of the Round

A win for the Jets would see them remain first, and could have potentially wrapped up the Premiership. 

The Newcastle Jets Youth was donning a new look back three in Reece Papas, Tom Whiteside and Marcus Duncan in the absence of the suspended Roman Hofmann. 

The Jets opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute. Mike Finlayson creatively stole the ball from Jobe Wheelhouse inside the eighteen yard box and fired a shot past Danny Ireland into the bottom left hand corner.  

In the twenty-ninth minute the Jets had another brilliant chance. Michael Kantarovski brilliantly stole the ball from Denis Fajkovic, and sent a ball up field for Brandon Lundy. Lundy took the ball past Kevin Davison however the bounce was not favourable, just too high for the striker who would have had a foot race with Wheelhouse had he controlled it. 

Just two minutes later against the run of play, the home side equalised. Riley McNaughton sent a long throw into the box that was headed clear by Reece Papas. The ball fell forty yards out to Wheelhouse who played the ball right to Peter McPherson. McPherson drilled a shot from distance on goal, which was spilled by Jets keeper John Solari. Luke Remington was the first to respond, driving the ball over a sliding Solari into the back of the net. 

The goal was the spark the Jaffas needed after being dominated for most of the opening half hour. After the goal they were the better side, however the score remained 1-1 at the half time break. 

Both sides created a number of chances immediately after half time. The most notable was eight minutes in as a whipped Ben Hay free kick was met by Nick Cowburn, whose shot was on target from close range but was superbly tipped over the bar by Danny Ireland. 

The Jets eventually found the breakthrough in the fifty-fifth minute. Mike Finlayson picked up the ball twenty metres behind halfway and spotted Lundy’s run in behind the defence. A through ball with ultimate precision found its way into Lundy’s path, as he charged on to slot a one-on-one shot past Ireland into the bottom left hand corner.  

Lundy’s goal separated the sides, with the Newcastle Jets Youth picking up the three points with the 2-1 win and remaining in first position.

As usual Ben Hay and Nick Cowburn were exceptional down the left and right flanks respectively, however it was the return of Brandon Lundy in the front third that had the greatest impact for the Jets.

Lambton take on Adamstown next week. Unfortunately for them it will not be for the Minor Premiership, but however it will be to stay third, as they can finish as low as fifth, with Edgeworth and Charlestown close behind. 

The Jets have set up a blockbuster match between themselves and Weston at Rockwell Automation Park for the Minor Premiership. 

Adamstown Rosebud FC 2 def. Hamilton Olympic FC 1
Adamstown Oval
Sunday 3rd August, 2.45pm

In the second match of Round 17 Adamstown hosted Hamilton Olympic in a local derby at Adamstown Oval.

Adamstown was the ninth ranked team heading into the match and required a win to keep their finals hopes alive.  

Hamilton was at risk of falling out of the five, as they were the side occupying fifth, only a point ahead of Charlestown. 

Twenty-five minutes into the match the home fans went wild as veteran Sean Matthews ‘wound back the clock twenty years’ according to coach Anthony Richards and blasted a stunning free kick into the back of the net. 

Just before half time an attempted Andrew Swan shot turned into a cross and Pat Brown was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net. 

The sides went into the break locked at one apiece. 

There was only one goal in the second half, and thankfully for the home faithful a man in green scored it.

Nick Bale finished off some good build up play by Daniel Yaxley and John-Dineen-Griffin to give his side their sixth win of the season.

Richards was extremely proud of his men, commending their fighting attitudes. 

‘It was a good win, we played really well, and I’m very happy with the effort the guys put in,’ he said. 

‘We hung on and created many chances, and another positive was that it was Abe’s (Wheelhouse) first start in two months and he was brilliant’. 

Richards was extremely pleased with the whole team but singled out the two goal scorers, Matthews and Bale, as the two highlight performances.  

Despite picking up the victory Adamstown can no longer make the finals as Charlestown defeated Lake Macquarie. They have leaped above South Cardiff and Broadmeadow into seventh however. A win next week against Lambton away from home can see them finish the season in sixth. 

Hamilton dropped to sixth with the loss, and need to win next week against Edgeworth, whilst relying on Magic to beat Charlestown, in order for them to make the finals.

Charlestown City Blues FC 2 def. Lake Macquarie City FC 1
Lisle Carr Oval
Sunday 3rd August 2.45pm 

This fixture had no bearing in regards to Lake Macquarie’s position on the ladder however the Charlestown City Blues had it all to play for as they hosted the pair’s Round 17 clash. 

The Charlestown City Blues was in sixth position prior to the round after six wins. A win could have taken them to fourth, whereas a loss could have seen them fall from finals contention all together. 

Despite being assured relegation, the Roosters would not quit and their fighting attitude took them into the half time break locked at nil all with the sixth placed side that they had already beaten this season.  

The Roosters played good, positive football in the first half.  

In the second half the Blues was the better side. Goals to Kane Goodchild and Cameron Sullini saw them overcome a Tom Walker goal to win the match 2-1.

Lake Macquarie coach Gary Rowe believed his side played well in the first half but conceded that the Blues was far better in the second, and labeled Dan Walker and Cameron Aspinall as two standouts throughout the match.

Charlestown enters the top five at the expense of Hamilton who was beaten by the Rosebud, and Lake Macquarie inevitably remains in last position. 

Next week Charlestown are at home at Lisle Carr Oval to host Broadmeadow Magic, a match they may have to win to remain in the top five as Hamilton are just two points below them. Lake Macquarie feature in their last NPL match for at least a season at home against South Cardiff. Both matches are on Sunday. 

Broadmeadow Magic FC 0 def. by Edgeworth FC 2
Magic Park
Sunday 3rd August 2.45pm

Broadmeadow welcomed Edgeworth to Magic Park for their Round 17 meeting, in a match crucial for both sides. 

To remain in contention for finals football the seventh placed Broadmeadow needed to win.  

If the fourth placed Edgeworth lost however there was a high chance that they would not finish the round inside the top five. 

The sides went into the half time break locked at 0-0. Broadmeadow had the better of the first half but neither side could force a breakthrough. 

Edgeworth completely dominated the second half, and goals to Dylan Holz and Hector Mendez sealed the three points for the travelling Eagles. 

Coach Gary Wilson was understandably content with the performance and the result. 

‘We played really well,’ he said. 

‘We controlled the game and we were good in front of goals today’.  

The loss means that Broadmeadow slip to eighth position on the NPL ladder, and will not be able to defend their 2013 title, as they are now no chance of making the finals. Edgeworth are now fourth, equal with third placed Lambton, and are now assured of a finals spot. 

Next weekend Charlestown host Broadmeadow and Edgeworth travel to Darling Street Oval on Sunday to take on Hamilton.  

South Cardiff FC 1 def by Weston Workers FC 2
Ulinga Oval
Sunday 3rd August 2.45pm 

It’s official. Weston Bears will host Newcastle Jets Youth next week to play off for the Minor Premiership after defeating South Cardiff 2-1. 

The Gunners entered the round in eighth following six season wins, and the Bears were second with eight wins, two behind first placed Newcastle Jets Youth. 

Weston was looking to beat the Gunners for the first time this year after losing to them twice, and Carl Thornton gave them the perfect start, netting for the visitors after twenty-five minutes. 

On the half an hour mark Nathan Stevens was sent off for bringing down Rob Macbeth in the box, giving away a penalty in the process.  

Nathan Morris stepped up to take the penalty, but his shot was saved by Gunners’ keeper Mick Stafford. 

Five minutes after the break South Cardiff found themselves level, as Weston conceded a penalty of their own. Chris Gazzard launched a long throw into the box that was flicked on by Jarryd Johnson into the hand of Liam Thornton. A penalty was awarded, and Daniel Johnson found the bottom right hand corner to make the scores level. 

With five minutes to go some good build up play including substitute Jamie Subat saw fellow sub Michael Ryan pick up the ball in an attacking position. He fired the ball past Stafford to send the Bears ahead again. 

They then held on anxiously for the last five minutes of stoppage time, picking up the three points despite not playing their best.

According to assistant coach Darren Sills the side tried to play far too centrally and tight. He also commended the Gunners’ performance.

‘South Cardiff did well especially with ten men, and they would be feeling extremely hard done by with coming away from the match with no points’. 

‘Our subs Jamie Subat and Mick Ryan were outstanding and lifted the team when they came on, and Garry McDermott and Brock Oakley were great too’. 

South Cardiff now fall to ninth following the loss and Adamstown’s win over Hamilton. Their final match of 2014 is against Lake Macquarie on Sunday afternoon.  

The Bears remain second. They are now four ahead of the Jaffas, and therefore will finish second at the least. They have the chance to win the Minor Premiership next week against the first placed Jets on Saturday at Rockwell Automation Park.