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Match of the Round
Maitland Magpies 3 (Thornton 42’, Thompson 64’, Read 89’) def. Hamilton Olympic 2 (Pettit 66’, Cooper 75’)
Sunday 29^th April, 2:30 pm at Cooks Square Park

A valiant Hamilton fightback from two goals down wasn’t enough to another one of Alex Read’s last-gasp goal’s that snatched all three points for the Magpies.

It was a different defender who opened the scoring, with Liam Thornton seizing on a loose ball in the area after a corner and firing home in the 42^nd minute.

The home side doubled their advantage after half-time, in a move started from a Matt Trott goal kick. The ball found its way out to Ryan Clarke, who set off down the line and managed to square it to a reaching James Thompson. He turned home and made it 2-0.

Just two minutes later, Hamilton was back in with a shout. Jarryd Sutherland beat his man and managed to dink a nice little chip across the face of the goal, which was headed in by Scott Pettit.

They levelled things nearly ten minutes later. Pettit started the move down the right-hand side and sent the ball in, which was helped on by Jake McGuinness and finished by Rhys Cooper across Trott to make the score 2-all.

Hamilton thought they’d done enough to secure their fifth point at the season, but Alex Read would have the final say.

The centre-back charged forward and got on the end of an Andrew Swan cross, and fired home a thundering volley to send the Magpies into third on the ladder.

 

Weston Bears 1 (Burtson 50’) def. by Adamstown Rosebud 2 (Berlin 28’, Heydon 39’)
Saturday 28^th April, 2:30 pm at Rockwell Automation Park

Each side would have come into this one confident of taking three points from the other, with Adamstown on the hunt for their first win of the season.

In the end, it was the visitors who managed to edge out Weston and propel themselves out of the last spot with their first three points of the season.

Rosebud scored the opening goal just prior to the half-hour mark after Turki Alwesaidy seized on a slip from Weston midfielder Max Foster.

He played a deft little ball through the line to Chris Berlin, who caught Kane Runge wrong-footed and put the visitors ahead.

Alwesaidy had a big hand in the next goal again, which put Adamstown two ahead. He received a long ball over the top from Judd Duncan and set on his way toward the goal.

His square up to Connor Heydon wasn’t met with the most convincing of touches, which sent everyone the wrong way as the ball dribbled into the far corner and made the score 2-0.

Just four minutes into the second half, Weston had one back. A ball in from the right-hand side was met by Jackson Burtson, whose side-footed volley was a good one and whistled into the back of the net recording his fourth goal of the year.

Weston lost a man in the 60^th minute after a strong challenge from Oliver Davies caught Regan Lundy. He went down writhing in pain and was eventually taken away in an ambulance with a serious leg injury.

The Bears had a penalty shout waved away in the 77^th minute after a Tega Marcus cross appeared to strike the arm of Ben Higgins, and shortly after Adamstown’s Harrison Frendo was stretched off after a strong coming together with Max Foster.

Adamstown had a chance to put the game to bed when in the 82^nd minute, Berlin was 1 on 1 with Kane Runge but couldn’t turn home. On the follow-up, Cooper Buswell managed to stand in goal and keep out Connor Heydon.

Weston peppered the home goal with shots in the closing ten minutes. Marcus had the best chance in the 95^th minute but was prevented by an onrushing Benn Kelly, but in the end, it was Adamstown who claimed their first win of the season.

 

Broadmeadow Magic 2 (Carrol 5’, Bradbery 14’) def. Valentine Phoenix 0
Saturday 28^th April, 7 pm at Magic Park

Broadmeadow was made to fight, and fight hard in what was captain Josh Piddington’s 300^th first grade game in Magic colours.

Despite playing almost half of the match a man down, they managed to edge out Valentine and jump into second on the ladder.

Cody Carrol got the goals started in the fifth minute, with a stunning free kick for the second week running. His effort from just outside the area left Valentine keeper Perry Budden stranded and put the home side ahead 1-0.

A thundering strike from Kale Bradbery shortly after doubled Magic’s advantage. He received the ball on the edge of the area and fired toward goal, the power behind the shot giving Budden little time to react as the ball rippled in the back of the net.

An off-the-ball incident in the 44^th minute would put Broadmeadow firmly on the back foot, as Fajkovic took exception to Zac Sneddon and lashed out. After some consultation with the linesman, Fajkovic was shown a red card.

Valentine started the second half brightly, with much of the possession in the attacking half without anything to show for it. It was a trend which continued throughout the half, and they were almost down by three in the 71^st minute when a square ball was just out of the reach of Magic’s John Majurovski.

Joel Wood had an absolutely golden chance for Valentine in the 86^th minute, free at the back post after a corner but only able to turn his shot into the arms of Paul Bitz.

Phoenix’s Wilson Edwards put a header over the bar in the 95^th minute, but it would have proved consolation only as the whistle blew for Magic’s fourth win of the season seconds later.

 

Newcastle Jets Youth 5 (Thurgate 9’, Tipaldo 58’, Harrison 64’, 90’, OG 66’) def. Lake Macquarie City 3 (Walker 7’, 56’)
Sunday 29^th April, 2:30 pm at Macquarie Field

It was a match in which Lakes actually lead twice, and the scores were locked at 1-all when the two sides went to the sheds at half-time.

An incredible second half seen six goals scored, and Jets Youth running away with their third win of the year.

It was Sam Walker who opened the scoring, and he did it in incredible fashion. His goal came directly from the corner and had his side ahead in just the seventh minute.

Within minutes the Jets Youth were level. A deft little one-two between Angus Thurgate and Cai Tipaldo saw the former fire on goal and beat Kye Abrahams to level things at 1-all.

It was an end-to-end match, with both keepers kept on their toes by relentless attacks from both sides.

It took until the second half for another goal however and it came from Lakes’ striker Walker again, who was perfectly placed to seize on a loose ball in the box and fire home.

Once again though, their lead only lasted two minutes. Abrahams came for a ball out wide but wasn’t able to collect, and this time Thurgate turned provider and set up Tipaldo for a precise finish into the top corner to make it 2-all.

Kent Harrison was perfectly placed soon after to put Jets Youth into the lead for the first time. A ball in from Josh Cairelli wasn’t dealt with by Abrahams and fell nicely for Harrison to make the score 3-2.

Things got worse for Lakes just two minutes later, after a Kaleb Cox’s shot was deflected in by a Lakes defender to make the score 4-2.

In what was already a tit-for-tat battle, Lakes nearly had one back after another two minutes when Morgan Okeno was through on goal but had his shot deflected wide for a corner.

The game was put to bed in the 90^th minute after Abrahams came for another ball and failed to collect. He was rounded by Kent Harrison, who finished well for his second of the afternoon and the Jets’ fifth.

Walker would turn provider soon after this and provided Mitch Hunter with a good pass which allowed his volley to sizzle into the top of the net. It would prove only a consolation as Jets Youth emerged 5-3 victors.

 

Edgeworth Eagles 1 (McBreen 81’) drew Charlestown City Blues 1 (McNaughton 76’)
Sunday 29^th April, 2:30 pm at Jack McLaughlan Oval

Looking to knock the Eagles off their perch, Charlestown came to Jack McLaughlan Oval on Sunday afternoon in search of a win which would have put them five points ahead of the pack.

Open at times, tight at times, and entertaining at all times is exactly how this one went as two of the league’s best fought it out and left it late to disturb the back of the net.

It was Edgeworth who perhaps started the better of the two sides, and a Dylan Holz shot from distance in the 22^nd minute forced a low save out of Danny Ireland in the Blues goal.

Their best effort of the half came just a minute later when Liam Spurway set Daniel McBreen off. His first-time cross found Jamie Byrnes, with the striker unable to beat Ireland at the near post.

Charlestown had the best of their chances shortly after half-time, as they edged possession and position but were unable to get free on goal and test Nate Cavaliere in a meaningful manner.

Edgeworth thought they’d made the breakthrough in the 68^th minute when a strong run from Daniel McBreen helped the ball find it’s way out to Josh Evans.

His cross found Dom Bizzari, whose miscued shot was turned in by Jamie Byrnes. However, Byrnes was adjudged to be offside.

It was the visitors who’d find the first goal of the afternoon in the 76^th minute. A ball from the deep found the head of Riley McNaughton, whose attempt was palmed onto the bar by Cavaliere. The rebound found McNaughton again, and this time there was nothing the Edgy ‘keeper could do as he fired home to put Charlestown ahead.

Their lead didn’t last long though, as the Late Show starring Daniel McBreen came through once again. In a move started out wide by substitute Tyson Jackson, the ball through to Adam Cawley was squared to McBreen who glanced his shot into the far post to level the scores.

1-all was how this one would finish, and it leaves Charlestown ahead by three points at the top of the ladder. Hot on their tails are Magic, Edgeworth and Maitland – all on 13 points.