By Blake Jarrett

Lambton Jaffas FC vs. Charlestown City Blues FC

The Lambton Jaffas vs Charlestown City Blues NPL Semi Final has been moved to Blacksmiths Oval (Gommera St, Blacksmiths) and will kick off at 2pm Sunday 31st. (Please note lower grades will FOLLOW this match).

Win and you get a shot at either Weston or the Jets Youth next week to play off for the Grand Final. Lose and your season is over.

That is what is on the line this weekend as Lambton Jaffas take on Charlestown City Blues at Arthur Edden Oval.

Lambton finished the season in 3rd place, and was defeated in the qualifying Semi Final last weekend by Weston. They trailed 3-0 after 50 minutes, however almost completed a magnificent comeback. Goals to Jobe Wheelhouse and John Majurovski were not enough as Lambton bowed out 3-2.

Charlestown finished the regular season in 4th position, and came from a goal down last week against Edgeworth to win 2-1, and book a spot in this week’s match.

The sides have met twice this season. In Round 1 Charlestown prevailed with a 3-1 win, then in Round 10 they made it two from two, winning 1-0.

With leading goal scorer Kane Goodchild in red-hot form, Charlestown will be extremely hard to beat on Saturday.

The Jaffas however possess class players in all areas of the pitch and have established themselves as one of the top sides again this season.

Lambton will be without star player Luke Remington who dislocated his shoulder last weekend against Weston, however the return of Majurovski in recent weeks has benefitted the side.

Expect a tactical change with Wheelhouse perhaps moving to the midfield. The Jaffas looked a lot more comfortable when he moved from centre back to the midfield last week, with his presence in that position changing the game.

Neither one of these sides are ready for their season to end, however for one of them it will this Saturday. It will be a fierce, competitive match as they both look to progress to the third week of the National Premier Leagues Finals.

 

Newcastle Jets Youth vs. Weston Workers FC
Rockwell Automation Park
Sunday 31st August 3pm
Major Semi Final

LIVE STREAM - VIEW HERE 

Just as there was three weeks ago when the Newcastle Jets Youth travelled to Rockwell Automation Park to take on Weston, a lot is at stake in this weekend’s match.

The Jets finished the season as Premiers after an 83rd minute equaliser in their Round 18 clash against Weston, finishing two ahead of their closest rivals. That earned them a two week break and they will be fresh and ready to go come Sunday.

Weston, as a result of that draw, finished the season in 2nd place. They then took a 2-0 lead into half time in the Qualifying Semi Final last week against Lambton, and added a third shortly after before they were forced to hold on after the Jaffas netted twice in quick succession just after the hour mark.

The Jets and Weston have met twice this season. In Round 7 the Jets prevailed 5-2, then the 1-1 draw in Round 18 showed the true intensity and competitiveness of the clash.

Assistant coach Darren Sills said that despite never defeating the Jets since their induction in 2011, his side is very confident that they can get the job done.

‘We have not beaten them yet, but in saying that we got closer than ever to them last time,’ he said.

He went on to say the team would benefit from Monday night off training as it looks to overcome several minor injuries from the clash.

Weston will be hoping to welcome the return of Liam Thornton who was forced off with injury inside the first half an hour last week. A decision will be made on Sunday if he will play or not.

Both sides possess attacking flair and defensive stability, so this clash will be quite the spectacle. Both sides are aware that a win will book them a spot in the Grand Final, so expect them both to leave nothing on the pitch, and perhaps more than two goals that the last clash between the sides produced.