Match of the Round
West Wallsend SFC 0-2 Wallsend FC
Wallsend FC coach Chris Gallagher believes individual efforts made the difference in their 2-0 victory over West Wallsend SFC in the first match of the Wallsend Derby on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides couldn’t be separated for the first half despite persistent efforts from each side.
Six minutes into the match, a scramble in front of goal almost gave Wallsend an early lead but the ball was sent out of play.
In the 31st minute, West Wallsend Jed Conway had a shot heading towards the back of the net, but Wallsend’s Piaget Abayo produced a goal-line clearance to prevent his side from going down 1-0.
Wallsend were forced to make another goal-saving tackle just six minutes later when James Lowe prepared to launch the ball into the goal but was denied by Angelos Karvelis.
The Bluebells came out firing in the second half with two shots on target in the 50th and 54th minute but were unable to capitalise.
The first goal of the game came in the 55th minute after the Red Devils were awarded a penalty following a tackle attempt by Bluebells' Kaleb Cox.
Wallsend’s Bailey Ryan wasted no time and launched a hard shot into the middle left securing his side a 1-0 lead.
West Wallsend’s Mitch Kramer produced a strike from the top of the box just three minutes later but sent the ball over the crossbar.
The Red Devils second goal of the evening came in the 74th minute when Matt Williams struck the ball from the top of the box into the bottom left corner.
The Bluebells' injury tally appeared to rise when Dain Greentree went down clutching his knee.
Despite having possession for the majority of the second half West Wallsend were unable to capitalise on their chances and sent the Red Devils away with a 2-0 win and bragging rights in the first match of the Wallsend Derby.
“It was good, we had a clean sheet again and better decision making this time,” Gallagher said.
“Individuals did their roles and did what they were meant to do for the most part.
“There are still some things we need to work on. Still, some discipline but even set pieces today were a lot better.”
C.Gallagher believed Zach Gallagher's return to the squad also heavily contributed to their second win of the season.
“We finally have Zach as our 10 and he’s linking up much better with the other players,” said C.Gallagher.
“We didn’t really have anyone that’s an actual 10.
“We’ve got Cody Halpin to come back in and Cody until he got suspended was a goal a game. So, I think it’s just individuals.
“We get the right individuals at the right time, and we keep them fit and not suspended, we should go alright.”
West Wallsend coach Bailey Cox said the lack of consistency in their squad has resulted in their recent run of results.
“It’s hard just for the players in and out and just not the consistency in the squad each week,” Cox said.
“So many chopping and changing each week but the balls in their half for the whole second half and probably was the whole first half as well and we got beat 2-0.”
Cox wanted his side to return to full focus and stop having lapses in judgment, but they were unable to do so.
“Just again we can’t score goals and then little mistakes cost us two goals,” said Cox.
“Both goals were lapses in judgment, so we still can’t put together a full 90 minutes.”
The Bluebells have now only had the one win in round one and Cox is hopeful their luck will change soon.
“I’m sick of having 20 shots and not scoring goals,” Cox said.
“It’s eventually got to click for us, I just don’t know when and when the luck’s going to turn, but it’s got to.”
West Wallsend will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Lake Macquarie City on Saturday afternoon.
Wallsend will hope to keep the good times rolling when they travel to Lydon Oval on Sunday afternoon to go head-to-head with Dudley Redhead United.
Kahibah FC 2-0 Dudley Redhead United
Kahibah FC secured the first win in the newest derby in the competition after they defeated Dudley Redhead United 2-0 under Friday night lights at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
The two sides came out fighting for the newly formed Matt Smailes Cup, named after Smailes, who spent years at both clubs and recently passed.
It took the Rams just eight minutes to net their first of the evening when Tyson Masters continued his round five form and scored his third of the season.
Jaidyn Kianou doubled his side’s lead in the 22nd minute after he was able to find the back of the net.
Neither team could add to the scoreline for the remainder of the match, which sent Kahibah away with a 2-0 win and one hand on the Matt Smailes Cup.
Kahibah remain second on the table and will look to continue their winning ways when they host South Cardiff FC on Wednesday in the round six rescheduled match.
Dudley will search for their third win of the season when they close out round eight going head-to-head with Wallsend FC.
Cessnock City Hornets 2-4 Toronto Awaba FC
Toronto Awaba FC kept their momentum going when they defeated Cessnock City Hornets 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Turner Park.
The two sides could not be separated for the majority of the first half, but it was Cessnock’s Zach Kronholm who broke the deadlock right at half-time to send his side into the sheds with a 1-0 lead.
Toronto’s Nick Roberts equalised for his side in the 61st minute when he was able to find the back of the net.
Damon Green added to the Stags' tally for the afternoon when he hit the back of the net just five minutes later in the 66th minute.
The Stags didn’t hold onto the lead for long before Kronholm scored his second of the evening and equalised for his side in the 67th minute.
The two sides fought for the lead, but it was Toronto who broke first when Jarrod Purcell found the back of the net for the first time in the 77th minute.
Purcell secured his side all three points when he scored his second in the 88th minute sending the Stags back to Lyall Peacock Oval with a 4-2 victory.
Toronto extended their lead at the top of the table and will look to continue their winning ways when they host South Cardiff FC on Friday night.
Cessnock fell to eighth on the table with a game in hand and will hope to lock in their third win of the season when they take on Thornton Redbacks on Sunday afternoon.
South Cardiff FC 4-3 Thornton Redbacks
South Cardiff FC won their first game since round one when they defeated Thornton Redbacks 4-3 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in the closing match of round seven on Sunday.
The Gunners opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Elijah Nyman.
Thornton equalised in the 28th minute when Mamadou Diop found the back of the net off a corner and then quickly stole the lead four minutes later after Nathan McAllister scored in the 32nd minute from a corner.
It appeared the Redbacks would take a 2-1 lead into half-time but a goal in the 43rd from South Cardiff’s Charlie Gibson sent the sides into the sheds locked up 2-2.
South Cardiff didn’t wait long to regain the lead after Brendon King netted his side's third goal of the evening in the 47th minute.
Thomas Walker doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 53rd after they were awarded a penalty goal.
Four minutes later Caleb Walz brought the Redbacks within reach of walking away with a point after he found the back of the net in the 57th minute.
Despite persistent efforts by Thornton, they were unable to add to the scoreboard and South Cardiff walked away with all three points for just the second time this season.
Thornton sits at the bottom of the table and will look to round eight when they host Cessnock City Hornets on Sunday afternoon.
South Cardiff jumped to fifth on the table and will hope to keep the good times rolling when they go head-to-head with Kahibah FC on Wednesday night in their round six rescheduled match.
Lake Macquarie City v Singleton Strikers
This match was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
