NPL Men’s NNSW Round Five Review: Dowse double secures back-to-back wins for Magic
BROADMEADOW MAGIC 3-1 EDGEWORTH FC
Broadmeadow Magic secured back-to-back wins but did not have it all their own way as they downed Edgeworth FC 3-1 at Magic Park on Saturday afternoon.
The fixture was the only one to go ahead in round five, with the other four matches postponed due to the wet weather.
A brace from Magic’s star forward Jacob Dowse ended up being the difference but Edgeworth were not far away with a string of opportunities that on another day could have seen them take all three points.
Magic started the match how they left off against Cooks Hill United last weekend by creating a slew of chances in the opening minutes but were unable to capitalise, with Bailey Wells having the best opportunity in a one-on-one breakaway but blasted his shot wide.
It was a mixed day for Edgeworth’s debutant goalkeeper Ben Conway with the 18-year-old giving away a penalty after taking down Dowse in the penalty area in the 19th minute. But he was able to quickly vindicate himself as he pulled off a fantastic save down to his bottom right-hand corner that kept the match scoreless.
But Magic would persist with Dowse announcing early that he was going to be a handful in the match. Magic’s ensuing corner after the penalty save would see Dowse pop up again with a header from close range but he was again denied by Conway with a reflex stop.
Magic would find their breakthrough just before half-time, with Dowse again breaking through thanks to an incisive through ball from captain Jeremy Wilson. Dowse beat Conway this time around with a low driven shot that proved too much to handle.
The second-half saw the Eagles begin with renewed vigour but Magic would extend their lead 10 minutes into the second half with Dowse again at the forefront, with the forward showing composure after pouncing on a defensive error and charging towards Conway before calmly slotting his second goal of the afternoon.
But the Eagles would not give in and found their breakthrough in the 72nd minute courtesy of a clever challenge to gain possession by Jeremy Brockie in Magic’s penalty area. Brockie then lobbed a cross to the far post for Archie Finn to head home despite an initial deflection from Magic goalkeeper Nate Cavaliere.
With the scores at 2-1 heading into the last quarter of the match the Eagles looked destined to find an equaliser when Will Bower tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area with his shot beating Cavaliere at his far post but hitting the post, with Brockie also hitting the woodwork with his follow up effort.
The match would provide a tense final 10 minutes but Magic eventually put the game to bed three minutes from full-time when Wells put it on a platter for Jayden Stewardson to smash home following a clever chip.
Magic will enjoy another home fixture against Adamstown Rosebud next weekend, while Edgeworth will look to bounce back against Charlestown Azzurri.
The matches between Cooks Hill United and Charlestown Azzurri, Maitland FC and Valentine FC, Adamstown Rosebud and Weston Workers FC and Newcastle Olympic and Lake Macquarie City were postponed due to wet weather.
Lambton Jaffas had the bye.