Match of the Round
Thornton Redbacks 2-0 Dudley Redhead United
Thornton Redbacks coach Scott Winslade couldn’t fault his side’s performance in their 2-0 victory over Dudley Redhead United at Thornton Park on Saturday afternoon.
It took Thornton just four minutes to open the scoring when skipper Patrick Wand struck the ball with power 25 yards out hitting the crossbar before it bounced down into the goal.
The Redbacks continued the momentum and looked to double their lead moments later when Caleb Walz had a brilliant solo effort from halfway down to the left of the goal forcing Dudley’s goalkeeper Kyle Predebon to tap the ball back to Thornton who missed the tap in.
But Walz doubled his side’s lead in the 18th minute when he found the bottom left corner from the middle of the box.
Thornton looked to have scored their third for the afternoon when Isaac Haggarty crossed the ball to Nathan Mcallister who headed it in but was ruled offside.
Momentum picked up in the back end of the first half for Dudley as they fought to add to the scoreboard but remained 2-0 down as they went into half-time.
The Thistles came out firing and immediately forced Thronton’s goalkeeper Ryder Smith to make a save just moments into the second half.
Dudley continued their search for a goal when Luke Wilson launched the ball towards the goal forcing Smith to deflect the ball back to a sea of players before it got lost amongst the legs of Thornton defenders.
The Redbacks appeared to have scored their third goal when the ball was struck from the top of the box but was ruled offside.
The Thistles continued to build scoreboard pressure when L.Wilson shot the ball from outside of the box forcing Smith to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Despite the pace and energy from both side’s building neither team were able to find the back of the net in the second half and the Redbacks locked in their third win of the season.
“I’m really happy with the performance, much better and a clean sheet,” Winslade said.
“We took our chances early in the first half, they came back at us in the second half, which we expected as they did in the first game, but this time we were a lot stronger.
“We held our lines well, defended really well and won every second ball we could, so I’m really happy with them today.”
Thornton has struggled with the final ball throughout the season, but Winslade believed that was not a problem on Saturday.
“The final ball hasn’t been there, again a couple of half chances early on that could have gone differently and I would have liked to be in three or four up at half-time, but the transition was actually really good,” Winslade said.
“When we got the ball, we were direct and confident, I think we created enough chances in the first half to warrant winning anyways.”
Dudley coach Mark Wilson was disappointed in the two goals his side conceded and believed cheap turnovers cost them.
“They came from turning the ball over too cheaply in the middle third, and we just got caught on the counter after losing those,” M.Wilson said.
“Still disappointed to concede tough goals like that.
“Sides are quick on the transition when you turn the ball over cheaply in the middle of the park.
“It simply came from that, that was as simple as it was.”
Despite the fourth loss in a row M.Wilson is confident his side will turn their season around.
“We just need to keep turning up, training and we just need to find a way,” M.Wilson said.
“The guys are doing the best they can, and it will turn around, I’m sure it will.”
The loss pushed Dudley down to seventh on the table, but they remain five points out of the top four.
They will look for their first win in five matches on Friday night when they go head-to-head with Lake Macquarie City.
Thornton has moved away from the cluster at the bottom of the table and sits in eighth.
They will search for a back-to-back win when they take on league leaders Toronto Awaba on Sunday afternoon.
South Cardiff FC 1-1 Wallsend FC
Wallsend FC coach Chris Gallagher was disappointed in his side’s 1-1 draw with South Cardiff FC at Ulinga Oval on Saturday night.
The two teams could not be separated as they went into half-time despite persistent efforts from each side.
South Cardiff’s Jackson Pereira broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second half when he calmly slotted a penalty goal in the 47th minute.
The two teams continued to push to find the back of the net with tensions beginning to boil between the sides.
As the game went into the final moments, South Cardiff’s Jordan Clark was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in the 86th minute and Wallsend’s Matt Williams was shown his second yellow of the evening for unsporting behaviour and sent his marching orders.
The two sides entered injury time a man down, but it was Wallsend who preserved and fought hard for a point.
Wallsend’s Bailey Ryan scored his fifth goal for the season in injury time and sent his side home with a 1-1 draw.
“I’m disappointed but satisfied. I firmly believe it was a fair result to be honest,” Gallagher said.
“Our keeper had a couple of saves, their keeper made a few saves, there were a few scrambles in the goal mouth.
“But to be honest I suppose on the balance of the game, I think a draw was probably what the game deserved but not what we really wanted.”
Despite the change in head coach for South Cardiff Gallagher believed their playing style remained the same.
“They were very similar to what they did in the first game, pressed really hard for long periods and we knew that’s what they were going to do so we just had to stay rock solid for a while,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher admitted the rising tensions displayed how desperate his side was to gain a point.
“It was the heat of the moment at the end of the game,” Gallagher said.
“It was pretty emotional, and we were desperate to get a point so that brings out the best and worst in individuals.”
The Red Devils will be eager to secure a win when they travel to Howe Park to take on Singleton Strikers on Saturday afternoon.
South Cardiff have moved to sixth on the table and they will look to continue their newfound goal scoring ability on Saturday afternoon when they go head-to-head with Cessnock.
Singleton Strikers 2-3 Toronto Awaba FC
Toronto Awaba FC continued their winning ways when they downed Singleton Strikers 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Howe Park.
Singleton Strikers’ Joel Barner opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he netted his fifth goal of the season.
The Strikers backline kept a dominant Toronto front third at bay in the first half and went into the sheds leading 1-0.
Stag’s Nick Roberts continued his in-form ways when he netted their first of the day in the 51st minute after he was able to find the back of the net for the ninth time this season.
Six minutes later Toronto’s Sam Maxwell gained his side the lead when he slotted the ball into the goal in the 57th minute.
Toronto’s Jarrod Purcell doubled his side’s lead in the 75th minute after he calmly converted a penalty.
The Strikers were able to claw one back through Lachlan Nicol after he found the back of the net in injury time.
Despite strong efforts by the Strikers Toronto made the trip home with a 3-2 victory with them.
Toronto will look to continue their six-game winning streak and extend their lead at the top of the table when they host Thornton Redbacks on Sunday afternoon.
Singleton will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Wallsend FC in front of a home crowd on Saturday afternoon.
West Wallsend SFC 1-1 Cessnock City Hornets
Two sides desperate for a win could not be separated when West Wallsend SFC and Cessnock City Hornets had a 1-1 draw at Johnston Park on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams were determined to secure a much-needed win but it was West Wallsend who broke first.
The Bluebells Tyler Rankmore found James Lowe who headed the ball into the back of the net in the 40th minute sending his side into the sheds leading 1-0.
Cessnock came out firing as they looked to equalise and it was Sam Baker who took on that responsibility.
A scramble in front of goal after a corner meant Baker was able to slot the ball into the goal in the 52nd minute.
Despite attempts from each side neither team were able to steal the lead sending both teams away with just one point each.
The Bluebells remained in fifth but now sit one point away from the top four.
They will look to return to the winner’s circle when they travel to Kahibah Oval on Sunday afternoon to take on Kahibah FC.
One point was enough to move Cessnock off the bottom of the table, but they remain on equal points with Wallsend FC in last.
The Hornets will be eager to get their first win since April when they host South Cardiff FC on Saturday afternoon.
Kahibah FC 3-0 Lake Macquarie City FC
Kahibah FC righted their wrongs when they defeated Lake Macquarie City FC 3-0 at Kahibah Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Lake Macquarie City are the only team to defeat Kahibah this season when they were victorious 4-2 in round three, but the Rams took the upper hand in their second clash of the season.
Kahibah’s Jaidyn Kianou opened the scoring for the afternoon in the 29th minute where the score would remain as the sides went into the sheds at half-time.
The Roosters were able to hold back a strong Kahibah attacking presence but two quick back-to-back goals for the Rams proved to be the difference.
Heath Kepreotes found the back of the net in the 68th minute before Riley Ferguson slotted the third and final goal of the match in the 70th minute.
Lake Macquarie were unable to claw one back and Kahibah secured their second victory of the week.
It was Kahibah’s third clean sheet of the season, and they will look to add to that tally when they host West Wallsend on Sunday afternoon.
Lakes will be eager to return to winning ways when they go head-to-head with Dudley Redhead United under Friday night lights at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
