Photo: Sproule Sports Focus

Ben Homer

Match of the Round
Edgeworth Eagles 3 (Trott 12’(OG), McBreen 34’, McLoughlin) defeated Maitland Magpies 1 (B.Thompson 70’ (P))
Cooks Square Park
Sunday May 28, 2.30pm

Edgeworth Eagles ended Maitland’s nine match unbeaten run in the PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW, in a dominant performance a Cooks Square Park in the ‘Match of the Round’.

The match was very even in the opening exchanges until a goal keeping blunder from former Central Coast Mariner Matt Trott, allowed Edgeworth to gain the ascendency. Brody Taylor hit a right foot curling shot from the left side of the box, which Trott looked to parry over the bar. Instead the ball sat in the air and Trott fumbled it into his own net.

From that point onwards Edgeworth had the majority of the chances. Daniel McBreen received a pass from Keigo Moriyasu in the 34th minutes before stepping and striking a left footed shot inside Trott’s near post.

Aaron McLoughlin made Maitland’s fears a reality after the break with a well struck free kick from an acute angle on the right. He curled his left foot shot over Matt Trott, who seemed to be obstructed by the sun and into the left corner.

To make matters worse for Maitland Dean Heffernan was given his marching orders for a foul on a runaway Ayden Brice, resulting in his second yellow card and for the second week in a row Maitland would have to play with ten men.

But, the home side was given a lifeline in the the 70th minute when a penalty was given against Edgeworth skipper Josh Evans for a handball in the box. Blake Thompson stepped up and slotted the spot kick into the bottom right corner to make it 3-1.

Maitland were awarded a late penalty in stoppage time, but for the second week in a row Thompson had his penalty saved as he went to the bottom right corner again as Edgeworth took the three points away from Maitland. Their 3rd win in a row now against the Magpies since they were promoted at the end of 2014.

Edgeworth coach Damian Zane was a little disappointed with his side not finishing more of their chances, but was none the less pleased to get the three points from Maitland.

“We had a lot of chances. I walked into the sheds and the boys were a bit disappointed. I was a bit disappointed too that we didn’t go on with it. We set ourselves up really well and probably didn’t put the foot down like we have in the previous weeks.”

“But to come away from Maitland with the three points is great. We have done the job we wanted to do so I can’t complain. I thought as soon as Piggo (Steve Piggott) took over they would be top four material. He seems to be able to come in and get defence functioning well at the clubs he has been at. We put three goals on them at home and they haven’t conceded against Hamilton or Lambton up here so it’s a pretty decent effort when you look back on it.”

Maitland coach Steve Piggott though his side let themselves down in defence

“The first goal was a soft and gave them a bit of momentum and confidence. But, the second goal really hurt. Three on three, four on three whatever you want to call it, we had enough defenders and he was outside our box and he gets to shoot with his left peg. That’s the only foot he’s got. My central defenders have got to do better there, simple as that.”

Next weekend Maitland travel to Magic Park to meet Broadmeadow while Edgeworth face Adamstown at Jack McLaughlan oval.

 

Lambton Jaffas 1 (Majurovski 68’) drew with Jets Youth 1 (Carroll 29’)
Arthur Edden Oval
Saturday May 28, 2.30pm

The Jets Youth held the Lambton Jaffas to a 1-1 draw at Arthur Edden in the opening match of Round 8 of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier League.

The Jaffas were looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season after a dominant 5-0 win over Adamstown last weekend, but were unable to do so against a spirited Jets outfit who took the lead in the opening half-hour.

Cody Carroll scored his second goal of the season in the 29th minute when he hit an incredible volley off his left foot from the edge of the box over Brad Swancott in the Lambton goal and into the left corner.

However midway through the second half the Jaffas were back level through their captain John Majurovski. Majurovski, after a scramble in the box, tapped one into an empty net after Jets keeper Pierce Clark failed to claim a high ball in the box.

Jaffas coach James Pascoe thought his sides major issue this season and in the match is finishing their chances.

“We were as good as we were allowed to be in the first half. The Jets worked very, very hard without the ball and very well.”

“The second half took a very familiar pattern to the last few weeks, in that we can move the ball into the last third quite comfortably, but we just have a little bit of lack of quality on either the final pass or the shot on target to really affect the scoreboard. That is how it is just at the moment.”

For the Jets Clayton Zane was happy with how his side responded after a disappointing 5-0 defeat last weekend at Hamilton.

“I think we could have taken a bit more out of it, if we rode our luck a little bit more. A draw was probably a fair result. For us today it was about being tighter defensively and we did that, which is a step forward. Its still not right but it’s a step forward.”

“We still have a lot of work defensively to do as a team, not just the back four, just as a team. In the summer, the two centre backs we had were regulars. So none of our centre backs got any game time at all during the National Youth League (NYL). From the front today I thought we were really good defensively.”

Valentine Phoenix 0 defeated by Hamilton Olympic 5 (Mooney 35’, Goodchild 49’, P.Brown 53’, Bertos 81’(P), Minors 90’)
Cahill Oval
Saturday May 28, 3.00pm

Hamilton Olympic extended their winning run to seven matches this season and have lost just three of their last 29 matches in the PlayStation®4 NPL Northern NSW. For Valentine, it was a disappointing afternoon after a positive 3-all draw with Broadmeadow Magic last weekend.

The first half of the contest was very even with both sides unable to create any clear cut chances, until Simon Mooney sliced down the right edge of the box. He cut onto his left boot and stabbed his shot past the onrushing Beyhan Irmako in the Valentine goal for Hamilton’s first of the afternoon.

After leading 1-0 at the break, Hamilton came on with renewed vigour in the second stanza. Kane Goodchild broke free down the right, four minutes into the half, before hitting his right footed shot across Irmako.

Just four minutes later it was 3-0, when Pat Brown scored his second in a week. From that point onwards the match was somewhat of an arm-wrestle before Rhys Cooper zig-zagged his way into the box and was brought down. Leo Bertos smacking the ensuing penalty into the bottom left corner.

Then fresh from coming from the bench, Matt Minors had an afternoon to remember, scoring his first goal for Olympic in first grade. Minors ran down the right, cut onto his left boot and hit a shot with power that went up and past Irmako, giving Hamilton a five goal lead for the second week in a row.

Despite the scoreline, Hamilton coach Mick Bolch was disappointed with how his side started the game.

“I though the first half was very scrappy we didn’t get out of second gear. But in the second half I though we were very good. I thought we controlled the tempo of the game and moved the ball really well. Our transition was really poor in the first half. It took us that long to get out of our back third, too much sideways play.”

After halftime Hamilton came out a different side, as Bolch’s words at the break helped his side gain the ascendency.

“I just spoke about our work rate. We have been pressing really well defensively as a unit lately, in the first half we just weren’t doing that.”

Valentine coach Darren Sills thought his side were great in the first half.

“I thought it was a game of two halves. We were right in it, our structure was absolutely sensational, the best we have defended all year in the first half. We set up in a block of eight in a 4-4-1-1, we picked up Rhys Cooper fairly comfortably in the first half. But, he had a whale of a second half.

Sills also added his disappointment about the condition of the much maligned Cahill Oval playing surface.

“Unfortunately we have to play on this pitch every second week. It’s a disgrace. However, it is what it is and everyone says both teams have to play on it. But they [other teams] only have to play on it once, we have to keep turning up on it, and both teams [on the day] will be sore and sorry. But, my guys are sore and sorry every second week because of it. It’s not an excuse why we got beaten, but it’s a contributing factor.”

Next weekend, Valentine meet the Jets Youth at Cahill Oval while Hamilton return home to meet Charlestown.

 

Adamstown Rosebud 2 (Berlin 51’, Read 59’) defeated Weston Bears 1 (Morris 58’ (P))
Adamstown Oval
Sunday May 28, 2.30pm

Adamstown Rosebud claimed their second win of the season at home against Weston in what was a confidence boosting performance for Graham Law’s side.

The result ensured that Adamstown moved from 9th to 7th on the ladder while Weston remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder in the PlayStation® 4 NPL without a win this season.

Chris Berlin got the scoring underway for the home side after a lovely chipped pass from impressive Adamstown youngster Thom Lino. The ball bounced up perfectly off the Adamstown Oval turf and Chris Berlin volleyed the ball on his right foot that shot beautifully over a diving Benn Kelly, into the right corner of Weston’s goals.

Weston had their reply not long after, as Gary McDermott played a well weighted through ball to Isaac Peek who had no one around him in the box, until Daniel Yaxley arrived late on the scene and brought him down. Nathan Morris made no mistake from the penalty spot, placing it into the bottom left corner.

But, it was Adamstown who were back in the lead moments later after a corner. Chris Berlin’s header from the edge of the box was nodded to the back post where Thom Lino got a touch to Alex Read. The ball bounced up nicely for Read that put the Rosebud’s in a lead 2-1 that they would not give up.

Adamstown coach Graham Law was very impressed with his side’s attack.

“We had 17 shots on target today and 11 corners and we thoroughly deserved those results. But, we still had to work for it in the end because we didn’t capitalise on our chances, so at 2-1 anything could happen.”

“In all honesty it took a world class save by Carts [Scott Carter] to get us the win. They had a great chance at the end and Carts turned something round the post that should have been in the net. It was a pressure game for us at home and the boys responded well. I can actually have some sleep tonight after the past few weeks!”

Weston coach Trevor Morris saw the match as the same old story for his side.

“I can’t fault the effort, I can’t fault the commitment. Things like that I thought we were great. We were up for
that and we trained well all week. We had a game plan, we put into place. I though overall we were pretty good, except for obviously individual errors and things like that which cost us today.”

“When you’re at the bottom, the bounce of the ball just doesn’t go your way and we are just finding ways to lose games instead of win them.”

Next week Adamstown have a tough task as they travel to Edgeworth, while Weston meet the Lambton Jaffas at home.

 

Broadmeadow Magic 4 (Virgili 4’, 31’, Fajkovic 41’, Bradbury 47’) defeated Charlestown City Blues 2 (McGuire 45+2’, Hughes 90+2 (P))
Lisle Carr Oval
Sunday May 28, 2.30pm

Broadmeadow Magic arrested a two game winless run against the Charlestown City Blues on Sunday, while the Blues lost their second match in a row.

The win allowed Broadmeadow to leap frog Charlestown into fourth on 15 points while Charlestown dropped back to fifth, but only sit one point outside the top four on 14 points.

For the third week in a row Broadmeadow scored inside the opening ten minutes. James Virgili running down the right side and cutting into the box where he struck a right foot shot past keeper Kyle Predebon and into the left corner.

Charlestown thought they had an equaliser minutes later, but a free kick was given against Scott Smith who pushed over Jon Griffiths in the process of scoring from a corner. James Virgili cut down the left side off the box on the 30-minute mark only to be brought down by Sam Hudson. Kale Bradbury stepped up with the penalty, which was saved by Predebon, but Virgili was able to scramble home the rebound to make it 2-0.

A lovely ball over the top of Charlestown’s defence from Michael Kantarovski bounced up nicely for Dino Fajkovic on the edge of the eighteen-yard box for Fajkovic to chip over the onrushing Predebon and make it 3 for Magic.

But, a stunning free kick from Josh McGuire into the top right corner from 20 metres out got Charlestown back in the game on the stroke of half-time.

Then immediately on resumption Charlestown shot themselves in the foot as they allowed Bradbury to weave his way down the left side of the box before hitting his left foot shot across into the bottom right corner.

Charlestown skipper Ben Hughes converted a stoppage time penalty after McGuire was brought down in the box but it was all too late for the Blues.

Magic co-coach Bobby Naumov saw the result as an improvement on recent weeks.

“It was an improvement and a win. It was on the right track for where we want to go, but still a lot of improvement to be done, but I’m definitely happy with the result.”

Naumov also spoke about the key to his side’s early goals.

“That’s the way I like to play. Its always been a matter of, if you are going to try and be the dominant team, from the first moment you want to put the front foot forward and put people under pressure. It’s nothing we plan, it doesn’t matter who we play we always like to do that.”

Next week Magic meet Maitland at home in another big game at Broadmeadow, while Charlestown face another test as they travel away to Hamilton.