By Blake Jarrett

Edgeworth FC 2 def. Lambton Jaffas FC 1
Sun 17 May 1:30 PM
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Match of the Round

The Northern NSW PS4 National Premier Leagues Match of the Round was anticipated to be a blockbuster, and it certainly delivered as Edgeworth downed Lambton on home soil.

The Eagles came out all guns blazing and completely dominated the opening half an hour. They recorded a number of strikes on target, however Jaffas keeper Brad Swancott was in red-hot form.

One of the major talking points of the match came in the 32nd minute, as a heavy touch saw Bren Hammell lose possession. His attempted tackle to regain the ball earned him a straight red card as both his studs were showing.

This was the turning point, as Lambton capitalised just ten minutes later, when Jobe Wheelhouse ran onto a pinpoint Alex Palozzi through ball and slotted into the bottom left hand corner.

The Eagles reply was instant, as Josh Evans headed home a Lachlan Pasquale free kick just two minutes later.

The final kick of the half saw Palozzi nearly regain Lambton’s lead, however a diving Jim Fogarty brilliantly kept out his thunderbolt strike that was headed for the bottom left hand corner.

The sides went into the half time break locked at 1-1 after an intriguing opening 45 minutes.

The second half was almost as interesting as the first, with Edgeworth fighting hard despite being a man down.

The substitution that saw Aaron McLaughlin enter the field for the Eagles proved to be well-timed, as he dominated down the left hand sideline.

He had a huge hand in the Eagles’ second goal, squaring up a perfect cross to Keanu Moore who slotted his shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Moore’s goal was the only goal in the second half with the match finishing 2-1 to the Eagles who picked up a valuable three points.

Edgeworth finish the round in fifth and have a great opportunity during the week to break into the top four as they host Maitland in their Round 4 catch up game on Wednesday night. In Round 7 they are away from home, taking on South Cardiff on Sunday.

The Jaffas are also in action mid week, travelling to Darling Street Oval Wednesday night to take on Hamilton Olympic. In Round 7 they return home to Arthur Edden Oval where they welcome Adamstown Rosebud.

 

Adamstown Rosebud FC 3 def. Maitland FC 1
Sat 16 May 2:30 PM
Adamstown Oval

Adamstown breezed past Maitland in the only match played on Saturday in Round 6, scoring their first win of the 2015 season.

Both of these sides had not picked up three points prior to this match, so it was a must-win for them both.

In a huge boost for the Buds both Roger Dowdell and Stu Musialik were featured on the bench as their comebacks from injury continued.

Rosebud went into half time with a crucial 2-0 lead. Guy Bates opened the scoring in the 28th minute then turned provider, sending in a cross for Nick Bale who tucked away his header nicely in the 39th minute.

Joel Wood gave the away side some hope late in the match in the 82nd minute, scoring a sublime header, getting them back into the game at 2-1.

It wasn’t enough for the away side though, as Rosebud defender Garry Kenneth scored the side’s third goal, getting on the end of a Guy Bates free kick to secure Rosebud’s first win of the season.

Maitland coach Reece Thompson was disappointed with the loss, as his side now has no wins from five matches, and just a single point.

‘We conceded off three set pieces so we performed poorly,’ he said.

‘We started the game well and could have been a couple of goals up but if you don’t take your chances in this league you get punished’.

He went on to commend former Maitland coach Graham Law, who he believes has the Rosebud playing to their strengths.

Maitland are still last, but have a chance during the week to pick up their first win, however it is a tough assignment away from home on Wednesday night at Edgeworth. In Round 7 they are at home to Charlestown on Sunday.

Adamstown will play next weekend again on Saturday, as they travel to Arthur Edden Oval to take on the Jaffas.

 

Hamilton Olympic FC 2 def. Newcastle Jets Youth 1
Sun 17 May 1:30 PM
Darling Street Oval

The second match on Sunday of Round 6 was a strong contender for Match of the Round as two top four teams, the Jets Youth and Hamilton Olympic, went head to head.

It was the home side that opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, after Mason Campbell spotted Kane Goodchild in space, and found him with a 40-metre free kick. Goodchild brilliantly headed the ball over the head of Jets keeper Jesse Cook to make the score 1-0.

Neither side could add to the score line and Olympic entered the break with a 1-0 advantage.

Five minutes into the second half the score was leveled as Michael Kantarovski guided a header into the back of the net off a corner.

Both sides desperately pushed for the win, however it took a moment of brilliance with just seven minutes remaining that produced the winner. Rhys Cooper played a ball to Andrew Swan wide on the right, who made a dazzling run, beating two defenders and slotting the ball with his non-preferred right boot into the back of the net.

Swan’s strike turned out to be crucial as the final score ended 2-1 to Hamilton Olympic, propelling them into third spot with a game in hand on the two sides in front of them.

‘I’m really happy with performance today, and the way we kept our shape. The boys had a job to do and they each did them,’ he said.

‘The only worry for me is we conceded from a corner. We need to get better on defending set pieces, we’ve conceded five goals and four have been from set pieces’.

Bolch labeled goal scorers Kane Goodchild and Andrew Swan as two key men in the win whilst commending the performance of Danny Ireland between the sticks.

The win sees Hamilton leapfrog the Jets into third place. During the week they take on the Lambton Jaffas, on Wednesday night at 7pm at home. Next weekend in Round 7 they are away to Weston on Sunday.

The Jets Youth will have almost a full week to recover, as they no longer have any wash out games to complete. In Round 7 they will compete in the Match of the Round against Broadmeadow Magic on Friday night at 7pm.

 

Charlestown City Blues FC 1 def. by Weston Workers FC 3
Sun 17 May 1:30 PM
Lisle Carr Oval

The third match on Sunday afternoon saw Weston breeze past Charlestown away from home, picking up their fourth win in six games.

The Bears were understrength, entering the match without Troy Hearfield, Jason Cowburn and James Monie.

For Charlestown Joel Witherden returned to the starting line up in a huge boost for the side.

The first goal of the match came inside the first ten minutes, as Garry McDermott scored what Bears coach Trevor Morris described as a ‘screamer’, to put the away side ahead 1-0.

They went into the break with all the confidence, and a one-goal advantage, and knew a solid defensive display in the second half would help them see out the match.

On the hour mark Nathan Morris doubled the Bears lead from the penalty spot after Robbie Turnbull was fouled inside the 18-yard box.

With 15 minutes to go some brilliance from Paul Clout set up the goal that ended Charlestown’s hopes of a result. He picked up the ball wide on the left, beat a player then cut inside finding Jake Milstead with a cross who tucked away the chance, sealing the win for the Bears.

Charlestown’s Rene Ferguson pulled a goal back for the Blues, however it was simply a consolation goal and Weston finished the match as 3-1 winners.

Bears coach Trevor Morris was not overly impressed with the game, but was inspired by the Bears efforts in defence.

‘The match and our performance were both pretty scrappy but a positive out of it was that we were well organised and again extremely hard to break down,’ he said.

‘I could not fault our backline again today; they were superb. Jake Milstead also had a great game, and is a young player who is improving week after week, and it was great for him to get a goal.’

Charlestown is in action mid week as they search for their second win of the season. They take on South Cardiff at home on Wednesday night, which is also live on Bar TV. In Round 7 they are away to Maitland on Sunday.

The Bears will enjoy a week off to prepare for Round 7, where they host Hamilton Olympic at home on Sunday.

 

Broadmeadow Magic FC 4 def. South Cardiff FC 1
Sun 17 May 2:00 PM
Magic Park

The final match of Round 6 was a five-goal thriller at Magic Park between Broadmeadow Magic and South Cardiff.

A win for Broadmeadow would keep them top of the table, whereas South Cardiff were still searching for their first win.

It was the Gunners who started brightest, as Jung Sang-deok finished a well worked goal after Sean Clerke squared a cross up for him after he controlled a Jarred Johnson corner.

It was the only goal of the first half, with the Gunners entering the break a goal up and full of confidence.

Their confidence was smashed to pieces in the second half, as Kale Bradbury showed why Magic signed him, scoring four goals in 21 minutes to give his side the win.

His first came in the 52nd minute, making the score 1-1 as the Gunners gave up yet another lead against a top four side.

His second and third were within a minute of each other, in the 61st and 62nd minutes, as he took full advantage of the Gunners playing with ten men as Cameron Herring was receiving treatment for an injury on the sideline.

His last came in the 73rd minute, which all but ended the Gunners hopes of a comeback, and sealed the win and the three points for the home side.

Losing coach Greg Asquith was disappointed after the loss but is looking forward to Wednesday night as a chance to regain some form and confidence.

‘Broadmeadow are fairly ruthless and we got caught napping a few times and got punished as a result,’ he said.

‘It was a pretty disappointing result, at half time we were decent value, and we held it together ok. But they catch you on the break quite quickly, and credit to Kale who is quality, but we gave him too much space’.

Asquith is extremely keen for Wednesday’s match against Charlestown, as it gives his side ‘a chance to get back on the horse quickly’ and pick up some well needed points.

That match is at Lisle Carr Oval at 7pm, and will also feature live on Bar TV. In Round 7 the Gunners are at home to Edgeworth on Sunday.

Magic will also be able to be watched live on Bar TV this week. Their Round 7 Match of the Round is on Friday night at 7pm and will be streamed live.