Modbury Jets held reigning champions Croydon Kings to a 1-1 draw to claim their first point of the season in the round three fixture of the South Australia Playstation4 National Premier League on Saturday night.

Nicholas Green and Rocco Visconte scored in the second half in a result that very much leaves the promoted side the happier of the two.

“It was disappointing, obviously,” said Croydon Kings Michael Doyle.

“We wanted to go out there and get the three points.

“But Modbury played well and we didn’t play to our best, and that cost us in the end.”

The first half was a tightly fought contest with most of the action occurring in the midfield.

Croydon controlled the majority of possession with Modbury sitting back with a strong defensive line waiting to attack on the counter.

This worked well for Modbury in the first 15 minutes of play with a cross narrowly missing the far post and a distant attempt going wide of the bar.

However, Croydon were always threatening with livewire Rocco Visconte causing havoc on both wings.

Visconte was involved in what appeared to be the game’s first goal in the 29^th minute, but the goal was correctly ruled offside.

Chances were few and far between leading into the break with one highlight a spectacular half –volley within the six yard box that was comfortably saved by Croydon keeper Nicholas Munro.

Croydon returned to the pitch all guns blazing with Visconte leading the way.

The winger was denied a goal in the 58^th minute, when Visconte met a fine through ball from midfield to slot the ball past Jets keeper Benjamin Jackson, but the goal was contentiously ruled offside.

However, it was Modbury that took the lead soon after:

A free kick from the left hand side wasn’t effectively cleared by the Croydon defence in the 63^rd minute, with the ball finally finding its way to Green, who latched onto the ball to push it past the hapless Munro.

But Croydon and Visconte responded a minute later, when an audacious long distance shot hit the cross bar and rebounded into the path of the winger, who nodded the ball into the net with a diving header.

Croydon continued press whilst Modbury patiently waited to counter, but the Jets’ defence held on to push the result over line.

Modbury vice - captain Kieran McNally was clearly happy with the result and said that the specified training leading into the Croydon match was the key for his team’s turnaround.

“I thought it was a complete change around from the week before,” he said.

“We worked on a few new things at training during the week and they just really payed off.

“The way we were sort of set up defensively; we set one (player) deeper in the midfield again and we had like a line they couldn’t cross, which really help the way we were set up.

“Everyone had a good game and put in a hundred per cent.”

On the other hand, Doyle admitted that Croydon took too long to kick into gear.

“It took us too long to get involved into the game,” he said.

“We got good chances, where we should’ve scored and we haven’t, and that cost us because they turnaround and scored in the second half, and made us come out and tried to win the game.”

The draw sees Croydon remain in second spot, whilst Modbury moved from the bottom into 12^th place.

Article by Christopher Munker