Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas 2-1 Weston Workers FC
Weston Workers FC coach Kew Jaliens is confident that his team did everything that they could to try and win the game after going down 2-1 to Lambton Jaffas on Sunday afternoon.
The reigning premiers and champions came bursting out onto the pitch, firing shot after shot at Weston goalkeeper Gerard Roebuck who kept the game scoreless until a wonder strike broke the deadlock.
Reece Papadimitrios found himself with an acre of space outside the penalty area and did what he is known for and launched the ball onto the back of the net in the 26th minute.
The Bears struck back to equalise just before half-time when Blake Archbold streamed down the pitch and cut the ball back to Cooper Buswell, who made no mistake and smashed the ball past Ben Kennedy.
It looked like the points would be shared between the two sides at the final minutes of the match approached.
But Jaffas edged ahead once again to secure the win in the final minute of regulation time. Patrick Bond launched the ball from the edge of the centre circle over Weston’s defence and into the path of Kale Bradbery, who made no mistake in striking the ball into the back of the net.
The Bears’ coach Kew Jaliens was happy with his side’s efforts despite not coming away with a point.
“For me, we did everything we could to try and win the game,” Jaliens said.
“We made a game plan, stuck to our principles and brought the effort and mentality. That’s all I can ask for as a coach. The luck on the day decided the rest.
“I thought we played a good game, I was very pleased with our effort and execution of our game plan.
“We did exactly what we trained on all week and it was seen that the boys picked up on that well and executed it to the best of our ability.
“I am very pleased with the growth and the lifted performance compared to our previous games.”
But Jaliens admits that there are still areas that his side can work on as they progress through the season.
“There are always things that you can do better,” Jaliens said.
“It’s always disappointing to lose like that but for me football is more than just the result. Jaffas away is always a hard game and one that you can lose.”
Jaffas coach David Tanchevski was pleased with his side’s ability to adapt but admits his side should have got the job done well before the 90th minute.
“It was a tricky first 15 minutes as Weston came out playing in a shape we did not know how to play against but we changed things up and adapted well,” Tanchevski said.
“The most disappointing part of the first half was that we should have put the game to bed in the first half. It got frustrating as we had enough chances to win the game.
“We had the better possession and the confidence is good.”
Tanchevski is hopeful that his side can build on their positive start to the season and reach their potential.
“The confidence for the boys is that we controlled the game well defensively. We feel really secure and have been impressive so far,” Tanchevski said.
“We broke the season into sections and in the first four games we wanted to pick up 10 points and we have 12 which is great.
“I think the boys are only about 75 per cent so we still have room for improvement and we are getting closer and closer each week. Hopefully the boys can keep moving forward and set us up for the season.”
Jaffas finished round four third on the table and will look to make it five from five when they finally return home to Arthur Edden Oval against Newcastle Olympic on Saturday.
The Bears have slipped to seventh on the table and will hope to bounce back when they return home to Rockwell Automation Park on Saturday night to face Broadmeadow Magic.
Newcastle Olympic 0-3 Maitland FC
Maitland FC spoilt the party at Darling Street Oval, downing Newcastle Olympic 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Olympic could not carry the club's celebrations for the opening of their new grandstand and amenities onto the pitch.
The first 70 minutes of the match were cagey with neither side unable to challenge the two goalkeepers.
James Thompson finally broke the deadlock for the Magpies in the 78th minute after he ducked and weaved between his defenders inside the penalty area before hitting the ball low and hard into the bottom of the net.
Maitland doubled their advantage in the 83rd minute with a fantastic long-range strike from Matthew Hoole. The defender found himself with an acre of space well outside the penalty area and put his laces through the ball, smashing it past Adam Pearce.
Captain Braedyn Crowley put the game to bed in the 93rd minute when Pearce came screaming out off his line but was unable to clear the ball. This allowed Crowley to pounce and smash the ball into the goal.
Despite the result, Olympic co-coach Paul De Vitis was impressed with his side’s performance and praised their efforts in defence.
“We were pretty happy with the overall performance,” De Vitis said.
“I thought we defended very well and I thought our midfield did a good job.
“Maitland plays in a certain way where they have a lot of people around the ball. We limited them in their goalscoring chances.
“It was a really good game and there was a huge crowd on offer, so disappointing that we couldn’t cap it off with a win or a draw but it was still an enjoyable day.”
But De Vitis acknowledges the areas in which his side needs to improve on heading into their big fixture against Lambton Jaffas in round five.
“We can take a lot of positives from the game, but Maitland had a bit more of the ball than we would of liked,” De Vits said.
“Things that we will be working on will be with the ball, as we have a huge game against Jaffas next week.”
Newcastle Olympic remain in fifth spot on the table despite the loss, one point above the Magpies. The side will be eager to bounce back next Saturday when they travel to Arthur Edden Oval to take on Lambton Jaffas.
The win allowed Maitland to secure their second win on the trot and see the side move up the table into sixth position after a strong team performance. They will hope to continue to build on their momentum when they return home to Cooks Square Park on Saturday afternoon.
Cooks Hill United FC 0-2 Charlestown Azzurri
Cooks Hill United FC continues to search for their first points of the season after going down 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Luke Callen opened Azzurri’s account in the 17th minute after he turned his defender inside out as he charged towards goal and slotted the ball past Cooks Hill’s shot stopper Daniel Eisenhauer.
Cooks Hill continued to create chances throughout the match but was unable to get past Charlestown’s goalkeeper Ben McNamara.
Azzurri was finally able to kill the game off in the final minute of regulation time, as substitute Harrison Frendo out-muscled his defender before he smashed the ball from outside the penalty area and into the back of the net.
Cooks Hill have fallen to eleventh on the table and will be desperate to bounce back when they host Valentine FC on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, Azzurri will look to continue their form when they travel to Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday to face Edgeworth FC. The Blues sit second on the table on equal points with the other top three sides.
Adamstown Rosebud FC 2-2 New Lambton FC
A stoppage-time penalty allows Adamstown Rosebud FC to share the points with New Lambton FC and finally kick start each team’s 2024 campaigns on Saturday night.
Multiple goal-scoring opportunities were created by the two sides with neither able to capitalise at Adamstown Oval in the first half.
Riley Taylor finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute as he slid into the penalty area to knock the ball into the back of the net for New Lambton.
Adamstown responded less than ten minutes later when Aiden Haplin headed the ball into the goal off a corner kick.
New Lambton edged ahead again in the 61st minute after a poorly placed back pass from Haplin allowed Oscar Ward to intercept and made no mistake in hitting the back of the net.
All three points looked to be going home with the visitors until a late penalty was awarded to Adamstown for a foul inside the penalty area in the dying seconds of the game.
Dane Lawther calmly converted from the spot, as he sent the ball hard and low into the right corner of the goal.
Rosebud will hope to build on their first four matches when they travel to Cooks Square Park to take on Maitland FC on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, New Lambton looks to secure all three points as they return home to Alder Park this Saturday to face Lake Macquarie City FC.
Valentine FC 0-5 Lake Macquarie City FC
Valentine FC shoots to the top of the table after defeating Lake Macquarie City FC 5-0 on Saturday.
The Pheonix celebrated their long-awaited homecoming to Croudace Bay Complex with four from four wins, as they moved straight to the top of the table on twelve points with no goals conceded.
Nick Cowburn opened Valentine’s account for the afternoon in the 31st minute, as he headed the ball straight past the reach of goalkeeper Isaac Nyman into the top left corner of the goal.
The A-League veteran added another goal to his name just two minutes later, when the ball he struck deflected off Lakes’ defender Hudson Wells and into the back of the net.
Tyrell Paulson tripled Phoenix’s lead early in the second half with a hard and low shot into the goal.
Substitute Nicholas Martinelli extended Valentine’s advantage in the 67th minute when he pounced on Lake’s defenders who were not able to clear the ball away from their penalty area.
Cowburn put the icing on the cake and secured his first hat-trick of the season, smashing the ball into the back of the net.
Valentine will be eager to keep their hot streak alive when they travel to Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field to take on Cooks Hill United FC on Saturday afternoon.
Lakes will continue to search for their first points of the season next Saturday when they face New Lambton FC at Alder Park.
Broadmeadow Magic FC 3-1 Edgeworth FC
Broadmeadow Magic makes it four from four after defeating Edgeworth FC 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.
The game did not start well for Edgeworth as they were reduced to 10 men for the fourth time this season in the 15th minute.
Jordan Lennon was sent from the field after it was alleged that he kicked Riley Smith’s head.
Smith quickly recovered and less than 10 minutes later opened Broadmeadow’s account at Magic Park with a strong ball into the back of the net.
The Eagles clawed back in the 55th minute when Keanu Moore smashed the ball into the top of the goal to bring the score back to all square.
But Magic edged ahead once again in the 82nd minute, as Jayden Stewardson tapped the ball past Edgeworth’s shot-stopper Ben Conway.
Smith secured all three points for his side, running in behind his defenders to strike the ball low and hard into the back of the net.
Despite the win, Magic has slid down to fourth on the table but is on equal points with first-place Valentine on 12 points. They will be eager to continue their run when they travel to Rockwell Automation Park to face Weston Workers FC on Saturday.
The Eagles sit eight on the table and will be desperate to bounce back this Saturday when they return home to host Charlestown Azzurri.
