By Blake Jarrett

Maitland FC 0 def. by Weston Workers FC 1
Sun 10 May 2:30 PM
Cooks Square Park
Match of the Round

The Northern NSW PS4 National Premier Leagues Match of the Round was contested in extremely windy conditions yesterday at Cook Square Park between Maitland and Weston Workers.

James Monie came into the starting lineup for the Bears to replace the suspended Rob McBeth, and Garry McDermott returned to replace the absent Jason Cowburn.

It was McDermott who almost opened the scoring as he broke free onto a bouncing ball in the 14th minute. His chipped volley sailed over Maitland keeper Ben Kelly’s head, but onto the roof of the net.

McDermott managed to have a hand in the match’s only goal. In the 22nd minute he struck a shot from inside the 18 yard box. His attempt was miscued, however Troy Hearfield pounced, heading the lose ball into the top right hand corner past Kelly.

Weston took the 1-0 lead into half time, defending superbly for the remainder of the first stanza.

One of Maitland’s best chances came in the 56th minute through central midfielder Ryan Broadley. His powerful strike from outside the box was palmed out for a corner by Weston keeper Tim Pratt, however had the shot not been straight at Pratt it almost certainly would have ended up in the net.

Maitland gave one last push by going to three at the back and introducing 2013 and 2014 Golden Boot winner Ben Martin late in the came, and changing to three at the back.

A goal mouth scramble with four minutes to go looked set to give to home side an equaliser, however the number of bodies in the box saw Blake Thompson’s shot deflect away, with the danger averted for Weston.

Neither side could add to Hearfield’s goal, with Weston picking up the three points with a 1-0 victory.

The result leaves the two sides at the complete opposite ends of the table. Maitland is rooted to the bottom of the ladder on just a point. Weston progress to the top of the ladder, two clear of closest rivals Broadmedow and Hamilton.

Maitland plays two matches this week. During the week they host the Jets Youth at Cook Square Park, then on Saturday the travel to Adamstown to take on the Buds, the side coached by the man who coached the Magpies to promotion in 2014, Graham Law.

Weston will enjoy a midweek with no matches and a return to normality in terms of training after several weeks of wild weather. Next Sunday they challenge Charlestown City Blues at Lisle Carr Oval.

 

Lambton Jaffas FC 2 drew Broadmeaow Magic FC 2
Sat 9 May 2:30 PM
Arthur Edden Oval

There was only one match played on Saturday in Round 5, and that was a blockbuster 2013 Grand Final rematch between Lambton Jaffas and Broadmeadow Magic at Arthur Edden Oval.

The first half produced the majority of the action as it witnessed all four of the games goals.

The scoring got under way as Daniel Casciaroli accidently turned the ball into his own net after a cross came in from the Jaffas’ left hand side.

Mike Finlayson then capitalised on an error from Grand Brown, by intercepting and firing a long-range effort into the net.

Peter Haynes then won a penalty after being fouled in the box by Brad Swancott, which he converted to put the away side in the lead.

The game’s best and last goal came as Riley McNaughton volleyed home the equaliser.

The half time score line of 2-2 meant that the three points was up for grabs for the side that could be more clinical in the second half. Neither could find the back of the net however, so the points were shared as it finished 2-2.

Jaffas coach David Tanchevski was disappointed with the result, feeling his side should have won the game.

‘We missed a lot of chances throughout the match and we conceded two goals that we should not have,’ he said.

‘Jobe (Wheelhouse) missed two good chances then Remo (Luke Remington) hit a one on one straight at their keeper. We created a lot in that match but we couldn’t convert’.

‘In saying that Jobe played higher up pitch today in a new look formation and had had a really good game, and Remo performed really well too’.

Lambton have now played three matches, producing a win a draw and a loss, and sit in sixth. Broadmeadow remain undefeated, however slipped to second, conceding first place to Weston.

Both sides are in action midweek in rescheduled fixtures. Lambton are again at home where they welcome Charlestown on Wednesday night at 6.30pm in their Round 3 washout, and Magic are also at home, on Tuesday night against Adamstown at 7pm in their Round 4 match.

Next weekend Lambton are away to Edgeworth in the Match of the Round and Broadmeadow welcome South Cardiff to Magic Park. Both matches are on Sunday at 2.30pm.

 

Adamstown Rosebud FC 0 def. by Edgeworth FC 2
Sun 10 May 2:30 PM
Adamstown Oval

The second fixture on Sunday afternoon witnessed Adamstown and Edgeworth going head to head at Adamstown Oval.

The Buds were without Stu Musialik and Roger Dowdell with injury, but were otherwise at full strength.

The Eagles were without Aiden Bryce through suspension, however welcomed back their key man Dylan Holtz who sustained a hamstring injury in Round 1.

The biggest talking point of the first half was a disallowed goal for the home side, just short of the 20 minute mark, after the referee ruled a handball occurred.

Neither side could otherwise find the back of the net, and the score remained 0-0 at the break despite a number of chances from both sides.

Justin Tannock broke the deadlock, converting from the penalty spot in the 55th minute to hand Edgeworth the lead.

Adamstown remained in the match, and pushed for an equaliser, however the Eagles sealed to win with five minutes remaining, as youngster Keanu Moore found the back of the net.

Moore’s goal completed the scoring for the match, with the Eagles picking up a valuable three points with 2-0 win.

Edgworth coach Damien Zane was extremely impressed with both the side as a whole, and with several individuals within the squad.

‘We played very well today and I was happy that we kept the clean sheet,’ he said.

‘Pat Wheeler and Josh Evans were rocks at the back. They were superb against Guy Bates who is an absolute handful. Lochie Pasquale debuted today and he produced a relaxed, brilliant performance. It was really a superb effort from him’.

‘We were boosted by getting Dylan Holtz back. He sets the tone for us, as he works hard and is someone you love playing with, and from my point of view you love coaching’.

Zane suggested there wasn’t much in the first half of the match, but believed the Eagles dominated the second after challenging his men to step up at half time.

The 2-0 result sees the Rosebud remain in ninth position, still without a win in four matches. The Eagles move to fifth, just one point outside the top four.

The Rosebud have two matches in the coming week. On Tuesday night they will participate in their postponed Round 3 clash against Broadmeadow, at Magic Park at 7pm. Next weekend Graham Law welcomes the side he coached to promotion, Maitland, to Adamstown Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Edgeworth will have the full week to recover. Their next match is next Sunday as they host the Lambton Jaffas in the Match of the Round.

 

Newcastle Jets Youth 3 def. Charlestown City Blues FC 1
Sun 10 May 2:30 PM
Lisle Carr Oval

The Newcastle Jets Youth and Charlestown entered their Round 5 match at Lisle Carr Oval aware that a win would keep them inside the top four, or enter the top four respectively.

Both sides had a number of players out, however that did not take anything away from the match which was a competitive affair.

Radovan Pavicevic opened the scoring for the Jets Youth giving them a vital lead as they went in search for their second win of the season.

A Nick Cowburn own goal got the home side back into the game however, leveling the scores up to 1-1.

The Jets went into the half time break with a 2-1 lead, after defender Tom Whiteside put them back into the lead.

The only goal of the second half came via the match’s second own goal, as a Nick Cowburn free kick was turned in by a Blue.

The match finished 3-1 to the Jets Youth who have bounced back superbly after their Round 1 loss, having drawn one and won two since then.

Jets coach Peter McGuinness was content with the win.

‘We started off really well, however we got a bit sloppy with our passing towards the end of the first half,’ he said.

‘The second half was positive as we created lots of chances’.

McGuinness went on to suggest Whiteside performed well at the back and that his distribution was great and that Michael Kantarovski was extremely creative in the midfield.

The Jets will be in action mid week in their rescheduled Round 3 match at Cook Square Park against Maitland, then will compete against Hamilton Olympic in Round 6 next Sunday.

Charlestown will also be in action mid week in their Round 3 match that was postponed, as they challenge the Lambton Jaffas away from home at 6.30pm on Wednesday night. In Round 6 Charlestown return home where they host league leaders Weston.

 

South Cardiff FC 2 def. by Hamilton Olympic FC 5
Sun 10 May 2:30 PM
Ulinga Oval

The final match of Round 5 was by far the most interesting as South Cardiff took on Hamilton Olympic at home in a seven goal thriller.

The Gunners were without four regular starters in Nathan Steven, Lee Ashton, Sean Clerke and Matt Grey, whereas Hamilton enjoyed the luxury of having a full squad to choose from after Kyle Hodges returned from injury in a 2-2 draw against Adamstown midweek.

It was the home side who took the lead, as central defender Matt Darr turned in a corner to make the score 1-0.

Half an hour into the match Olympic equalised, as Clayton Stocker deflected in a Kane Goodchild strike for his first of two own goals.

The 1-1 score line remained until half time, and the second half produced an astonishing five goals.

Simon Mooney scored the first of his brace just after the break, however it was cancelled out as Gunners’ forward Dean Kelley slotted home a Nick Russell cross from a free kick.

With half an hour remaining the score was still 2-2, and the match was there for the taking, and it was Hamilton who stood up.

Simon Mooney completed his brace, and then Pat Brown scored shortly after coming off the bench.

The match was sealed when stocker completed his brace of own goals, on a day where not much went right for the home side.

The score line read 5-2 at full time, with Hamilton picking up a crucial three points, keeping them in touch with the two sides ahead of them.

South Cardiff coach Greg Asquith was disappointed with his side’s performance, as well as the result.

‘We started off ok, but then we found it difficult to keep ball. Hamilton pressured us really well,’ he said.

‘Once again individual errors cost us which is frustrating, however Hamilton were clinical and deserved the win’.

Olympic coach Mick Bolch was understandably content with the big win.

‘We were the better side in the first half, and the only reason we weren’t ahead at half time was because of their keeper. He had a brilliant game and was the best player on the park,’ he said.

‘We then dominated the second half and I am very happy with how we played apart from conceding from two set pieces. We had too much for them in the front third’.

Despite the big win being a complete team performance, Bolch commended Kane Goodchild who ‘did well despite not getting on the score sheet’, Simon Mooney who ‘was creative and scored a crucial double’, and Rhys Cooper and Jacob Bailey who both ‘did really well in the centre of the park’.

The only negative from the match was that Matt Swan (hamstring) and Tom Davies (ankle) were both substituted through injury, but Bolch believes that both should be right for next weekend.

Both sides will enjoy a week without rescheduled matches, and will be able to resume normal training to prepare for two tough respective matches against top four opposition in Round 6. The Gunners are away to Broadmeadow and Hamilton is at home to the Jets Youth, both on Sunday at 2.30pm.