By Blake Jarrett

Newcastle Jets Youth 2 def. by Weston Workers FC 3
Rockwell Automation Park
Sunday 31st August 3pm
Major Semi Final 

The Newcastle Jets Youth travelled to Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday to take on the Weston Bears for a spot in the 2014 National Premier Leagues Grand Final.

On a ground where they had experienced so much success this season, a 5-2 win and becoming Premiers with a 1-1 draw, the Jets were very confident.

Both sides were without a key player each, with the Jets short of captain Nick  Cowburn, and Weston missing left back, Cowburn’s cousin, Liam Thornton, who were both sidelined with injury.

The Jets began the game with a bang, with Michael Kantarovski heading home a Brandon Lundy corner in the opening minute of the game.

Weston then regrouped, and both sides created several chances for themselves.

Weston equalized in the twenty-fifth minute, as Connor Evans drove a shot from outside the eighteen yard box towards the Jets goal. It seemed like a routine stop, however Solari made a meal of it, diving over the ball.

Both sides had their chances to go ahead before half time, however they went into the break at one apiece.

Shortly after the break the Jets produced an absolutely magnificent piece of play. Following ten passes that started with keeper Nick Hartnett, Reece Papas drove a shot towards goal that was saved by Weston’s Tim Pratt. Tom Waller headed the lose ball which was saved by Pratt, however he made no mistake with the rebound, driving it into the back of the net.

The match was tightly contested for the next half an hour, with the best chance being a Nathan Morris penalty won by Evans that came crashing off the cross bar.

In the eighty-second minute the Bears equalized as substitute Michael Ryan met a Jason Cowburn corner with his head, driving it into the top left hand corner.

Just four minutes later Ryan scored his second putting the Bears ahead. Some great build up play, and an excellent cross by Jye McKellar saw Ryan with the chance, which he finished tremendously with the head.

Despite a push for a goal by the Jets the Bears held on, sealing their spot in the Grand Final.

Bears coach Steve Piggott was delighted with the win, suggesting his team played tremendously in most passages of the game.

‘Jason Cowburn’s touches with his back to goal and Connor Evans’ facing forward were perfect today,’ he added.

‘We did a lot of homework on the Jets and it paid off’.

Weston will now play the winner of the Jets Youth and Lambton Jaffas clash that will be played next Saturday.

 

Lambton Jaffas FC 3 def. Charlestown City Blues FC 1
Blacksmiths Oval
Sunday 31st August, 2pm
Minor Semi Final

In the second Semi Final of the National Premier Leagues this weekend, the Lambton Jaffas met Charlestown City Blues at Blacksmiths Oval, with the game rescheduled to the beachside suburb when Edden Oval was deemed unplayable.

Riley McNaughton came into Lambton’s starting line up for the injured Luke Remington, and Charlestown’s prolific goal scorer Scott Smith was left on the bench.

John Majurovski opened the scoring, curling a free kick in off the right post.

Dino Fajkovic then doubled the sides’ lead as he volleyed home a McNaughton cross that was flicked on by Majurovski.

Lambton took the 2-0 lead into the break.

With twenty minutes to go Michael Lawrence tripled the sides’ lead after Charlestown were caught out throwing men forward to try and pull a goal back.

Four minutes from full time Scott Smith managed a consolation goal for Charlestown, curling a screamer into the top left hand corner from twenty-five metres out, however it was too little too late.

Lambton won the match convincingly, 3-1.

Lambton coach David Tanchevski was pleased by an improved defensive performance.

‘The boys know they can score goals, however we have been lacking defensively of late,’ he said.

‘I asked them to tighten it up and to their credit they did, and I was impressed’.

‘Their work rate on and off the ball was far better then last week, and I think moving Jobe (Wheelhouse) into midfield and Sesho (Michael Sessions) into centre back helped that’.

‘Tommy Smart was our standout today. It was his first game in left back and he really killed it there’.

Charlestown coach Shane Pryce was disappointed with the loss but was happy with the way his side played.

‘We were down 2-0 at half time to a side who took their chances,’ he said.

‘We then conceded trying to throw men forward, but take nothing away from the Jaffas, the better side won today’.

‘I thought collectively we did well but we were always chasing the game’.

Charlestown are now out of the competition, however were one of the most exciting teams this year and should be commended.

Lambton now take on the Jets Youth on Saturday for a spot in the Grand Final.