2022 NPL Men's NNSW Grand Final
Maitland FC 0-1 Lambton Jaffas
Lambton Jaffas won a fiery NPL Men’s NNSW grand final 1-0 over Maitland on Sunday thanks to Kale Bradbery’s second half winner.
There was drama pre-game at No.2 Sportsground as star Maitland striker James Thompson was named to start for the premiers, only to succumb to an ankle injury in the warm up and having to make do with a place on the bench.
Things got worse for the Magpies as defender Zach Thomas was shown a straight red card for violent conduct off the ball in the 23rd minute, leaving Maitland to battle on for the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Jaffas coach Shane Pryce was ecstatic with his team's achievement and said it was a great reward for what was a long season.
“I think this is a reward that is worthy of them,” Pryce said.
“Would the match have went our way if [Maitland] had a full complement? [I don’t know]. I have to give it to Maitland, they showed their true character today and we only won by one goal. But look, it’s a grand final win and we don’t have to put an asterisk next to this one.
“You play the game to win these big events on the big day and we have come away with it. I am elated, we have gone through so much this year and I’m just so happy the boys have achieved this.”
The afternoon saw premiers Maitland look to win their maiden grand final after falling short in 2019 and 2020, while the Jaffas were looking to take home the crown for the first time since 2017.
Maitland began the match with plenty of physicality and captain Braedyn Crowley in the thick of the action.
Thompson was replaced in the starting side by Lachlan Webb, with the star striker still battling an ankle injury that saw him miss Maitland’s major semi-final victory over Broadmeadow Magic.
Lambton’s Mitch Rooke almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a slashing effort but it slid just wide of the post.
It was a cagey opening before a scuffle broke out in the 20th minute with Jaffas midfielder Reece Papas being shown a yellow card for a nasty tackle on Maitland’s Joseph Melmeth.
Players from both sides came together in the ensuing melee, with Thomas appearing to run in and push Papas, resulting in a red card.
Reduced to 10 men, Maitland had to work overtime against the Jaffas who were looking to capitalise on the advantage.
Flynn Goodman closed the opening half with perhaps Maitland’s best chance of the game so far, almost picking out the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area.
An entertaining first half of football ended scoreless, though Maitland very nearly found the lead through Tyrell Paulson at the beginning of the second half only to be denied by Jaffas goalkeeper Ben Kennedy with the save of the afternoon.
Jaffas broke the deadlock in the 50th minute as Bradbery combined with Rooke after finding space in Maitland’s penalty area.
Bradbery produced a neat finish in the bottom corner to give the Jaffas a 1-0 lead.
Jaffas kept the pressure on as the second half wore on, with Maitland struggling to contain the expansive football of Lambton with 10 men.
Maitland’s Tye Cousins almost restored parity in the 80th minute with a rocket from outside the penalty area but his effort swung wide of the post. Cousins did similar five minutes later, forcing another wonderful fingertip save from Lambton captain Kennedy.
Maitland pressed hard in search of an equaliser but ran out of time as Jaffas held on to secure the championship.
Pryce said his team's experience with big games was integral to taking home the crown.
“I think our experience really helped today. In the lead up we were really cool, calm and collected because we have those experienced players. I was quietly confident about coming away with the result today because of that,” Pryce said.
“I keep going back to it, Maitland were huge today. To have a send off and to still have chances to win the game, they could have scored at the end to send it to extra time. It’s a credit to them and a credit to their attitude. I have known [Maitland coach] Michael Bolch for a long time and there is a lot of respect there.
“On another day it could have been different but it’s a win. We could have had a couple of more goals and Maitland were a man down but we will just take it. It’s written now so we are going to move on and hopefully do it again next year.”
Maitland coach Michael Bolch refused to pinpoint Zac Thomas’s dismissal as a deciding factor in the result but he said it was a tough call to get early in the match.
“If you decide that Thomas needs to be sent off for running 40 yards, then you have to be consistent,” Bolch said.
“I’m not saying Josh Piddington should have been sent off, he is a great competitor. But the calls have to be consistent. Whether that was the difference to why we won or lost, we will never know. Credit to the Jaffas, it has been a battle with them all year. It was a battle for the premiership and it was a battle today and they have come out on top.
“To lose [Thomas] when he was sent off and then lose two players due to questionable tackles as well, things just didn’t go our way. It’s not sour grapes, it’s just what happened in the game but good luck to Jaffas and credit to them winning the grand final.
“I am just so proud of the boys. We lost James Thompson for today and Zach Thomas was sent off, Joseph Melmeth got cleaned up and Flynn Goodman had to come off. We also had two 17-year-old kids trying to cover holes on the field and we took it to them for 90 minutes.
“Ben Kennedy made some terrific saves against 30-yard bombs. Another day it’s a different story but at the end of the day, we haven’t scored and they have. So that’s football.”
