PS4 NPL NNSW Round 7 Review









By Blake Jarrett

South Cardiff FC 1 def. by Edgeworth FC 3
Sun 24 May 2:30 PM
Ulinga Oval
Match of the Round

The Northern NSW PS4 National Premier Leagues Match of the Round in the seventh week saw South Cardiff host an in-form Edgworth Eagles side, on a day that meant so much for both clubs.

They lost valued member, Sam Taylor during the week, who had family ties with both clubs. The strength of the Taylor family was exemplified through Edgeworth midfielder and Sam’s brother Brody, who scored mid week against Maitland, and backed up in this match with a strong performance.

The Eagles took the lead in emphatic style. Bren Hammel returned to the starting lineup on his return from suspension, and fired a wonder strike free kick into the top left hand corner in just the 18th minute, firing up a huge crowd present at Ulinga Oval.

The Gunners then got a hold on the match, creating the better of the chances as half time approached.

They failed to take advantage of these chances, their best through Deok in the last minute of the half who missed a one on one following a superb through ball from Ash Balcomb.

They were made to pay in the worst way possible, as Edgeworth immediately went down the other end and scored through Justin Tannock to go into the half time break with a 2-0 advantage.

The first chance of the second half came through Edgeworth, as Taylor curled a shot over Gunners’ keeper Tom Pullin, but could only find the top of the roof of the net.

18 minutes later Edgeworth tripled their advantage, as Brenton Olzomer scored after a scramble following a cross from the right.

The Gunners immediately replied, getting the score back to 3-1. Deok made a break down the field, and incredibly had three shots on goal blocked, before recovering possession and cutting back to substitute Sean Clerke who fired a left footed shot into the bottom left hand corner.

That was the final goal of the match, with the Eagles inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Gunners.

It was the perfect end to a three game week for the away side, whose coach Damien Zane challenged them to take away the maximum amount of points, which they did in style, scoring nine and conceding three.

Edgworth climbed to third with the win, and the Gunners stay in eighth.

Next weekend both sides will be in action on Saturday at 2.30pm. Edgeworth are at home to the Newcastle Jets Youth, and South Cardiff are away to Adamstown Rosebud.

 

Lambton Jaffas FC 1 drew Adamstown Rosebud FC 1
Sun 24 May 2:30 PM
Arthur Edden Oval

Lambton Jaffas and Adamstown Rosebud’s match was initially set down to be played on Saturday, however more wet weather during the week forced the game to be rescheduled. Thankfully, it was played on Sunday rather than being put off as another mid week clash.

Jaffas were missing Tom Smart after he was injured mid week against Hamilton, however Michael Sessions was making his second start in as many matches for the home side, and Michael Bridges also started.

Adamstown were again without Stu Musialik who managed to get through the full 80 minutes. For the first time this season the Buds bench consisted of two first graders, the most they have had available in seven rounds.

The Jaffas began the game with a bang, through a third minute volley by John Majurovski into the back of the net, assisted by Alex Palozzi.

Both sides contested in the first half, however Adamstown looked the most likely to score next.

They managed to equalise just before the break, as centre back Garry Kenneth popped up for another set piece header, this time from a corner.

At half time the two sides were locked at one apiece, aware that the most clinical in the second half would pick up the three points.

Neither team were able to find the back of the net in the second half however, and the match finished at 1-1.

The score line was disappointing from a Rosebud point of view, considering they dominated the shot count, whilst keeper Scott Carter was rarely troubled.

New signing Travis Cooper went close several times for the Buds, including one shot where he struck the crossbar.

Key signing Guy Bates had the golden chance of the game, a 90th minute penalty following a Luke Remington handball, however he could not produce a goal from the spot.

Jaffas coach David Tanchevski suggested that his side performed well in the first half, but again could not take advantage, and again produced a ‘poor second half performance’.

He believed that a hectic schedule of late that has seen them play four games in ten days had an effect, as his side ran out of legs at the end of the match.

Rosebud coach Graham Law was pleased with the way his side dominated the match, and insisted that the wins will begin to flow.

‘That match was us the whole game, we dominated them and we had many more shots than them,’ he said.

‘Despite playing really well each week we are not getting rewards. We have been the better side in all of our matches except Charlestown who outplayed us and Hamilton where it was even’.

‘Garry Kenneth was exceptional both at the back, but also up front in attack. Scott Carter was rarely challenged today in goals but he had to make two crucial saves and he did really well both times’.

The draw sees both sides stay in the positions in which they entered Round 7; Lambton in sixth and Adamstown in seventh.

In Round 8 both sides are at home at 2.30pm on Saturday against bottom three sides. Jaffas host Maitland who picked up their first win on Sunday, and Adamstown welcome South Cardiff.

 

Maitland FC 3 def. Charlestown City Blues FC 0
Sun 24 May 2:30 PM
Cooks Square Park

The third of four Sunday afternoon match ups threatened to be the least impressive, however it was anything but as last placed Maitland took on second last placed Charlestown, at Cook Square Park.

Between the two sides they had managed just one win from twelve matches, so this clash was huge if they were to keep their diminishing finals hopes alive.

Maitland started the more positive of the two, as Ben Martin scored again, early on in the piece, to put the home side ahead 1-0.

Before half time Alex Read doubled the side’s advantage, and they went into the half time break leading 2-0.

Harry McGuire scored the only goal of the second half, and Maitland finished the 90 minutes with a 3-0 victory, their first of the season.

Maitland coach Reece Thompson described both his and his side’s first 2015 PS4 NPL victory as a relief, but suggested the immediate challenge now is to ‘kick on and get a few more’.

In regards to the match he suggested ‘the boys played well. We kept our defensive shape and structure for the full 90 minutes, which resulted in our first clean sheet which I am most happy about.’

Thompson said that attacking duo Ben Martin and Jye McKellar continue to impress, and credited substitutes Matt Comerford, Steve Rospiglioi and Chris Broadley for their performances in the win.

Maitland move off the bottom of the table, and into ninth with the win. The side they overtook was the side they defeated, Charlestown, who drop to the bottom.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Blues next weekend as they travel to Hamilton to take on Olympic on Sunday. Maitland will be looking to continue their momentum when they take on the Jaffas on Saturday.

 

Weston Workers FC 1 def. by Hamilton Olympic FC 3
Sun 24 May 2:30 PM
Rockwell Automation Park

Weston Bears welcomed Hamilton Olympic for the last of four Sunday matches, which produced a total of 13 goals.

The match was a significant one for Robbie Turnbull who was playing his 200th match in the black and white stripes.

It started off in a disappointing manner for the Bears as Hamilton’s Jacob Bailey put the away side ahead early on in the piece, finishing a free ball following a scrap from a corner.

Troy Hearfield restored the deadlock just before half time, finishing off a great set piece with a 25 metre strike after Nathan Morris played a free kick to Gary McDermott, who then squared it up perfectly for Hearfield.

Kane Goodchild missed a penalty just before half time in the 42nd minute, forcing a brilliant save out of Bears veteran Tim Pratt, and the sides went into the break at 1-1.

A second half double to Goodchild, making it three goals in a week, put the visitors ahead with a comfortable 3-1 score line. Simon Mooney assisted both of Goodchild’s strikes.

There was no way back for the Bears, as Hamilton left Rockwell Automation Park with the three points with a 3-1 win.

Olympic coach Mick Bolch was impressed with his side’s performance, apart from a short period prior to half time.

‘I am very happy with the performance today, although 15 minutes towards the end of the first half we slackened off a bit,’ he said.

‘Simon Mooney was absolutely outstanding today and Kane got on the score sheet again, I think that’s four goals in three games for him. I was also pleased with Rhys Cooper in the midfield’.

The Bears fall to fourth with the loss, after beginning the round in second place. In Round 8 they face a red hot Broadmeadow Magic at Magic Park.

Hamilton leapfrogged Weston and Magic and finished the weekend in first. Magic regained the lead with a win last night, so Hamilton finish Round 7 in second place. Next weekend they challenge last placed Charlestown City Blues at home.

Both of those matches make up the only two clashes on Sunday in Round 8, with the other three to be played on Saturday.

 

Newcastle Jets Youth 2 def. by Broadmeadow Magic FC 5
Mon 25 May 7:00 PM
Magic Park

This highly anticipated match was set to begin the Northern NSW PS4 NPL seventh round, however heavy rain on Thursday and Friday caused it to be moved back to Monday night, making it the last.

All present, or who watched on Bar TV, would agree was that the match was worth the wait, especially the first half.

In just the third minute of the game Broadmeadow took the lead. Mike Finlayson guided a well-placed pass out wide on the right to Scott Petit. Petit cut inside, rolled a pass back to Daniel Casciaroli who guided a stunning strike from 25 metres out just inside the left hand post to make the score 1-0.

Just five minutes later the scores were again level. Ben Hay found himself in space outside the box, and drove a shot towards goal, A diving Nathan Archbold couldn’t control the ball and he could only deflect it into the back of the net.

In the twelfth minute Scott Petit grabbed his second assist of the game. He again got the ball in space, and spotted Kale Bradbury. Bradbury let the ball roll through his legs, aware Peter Haynes was free behind him, and Haynes took advantage by driving a volley from 20 metres out just inside the left post.

In the 26th minute Magic went close again. A good diagonal ball by Ben Higgins was brilliantly brought down by Dino Fajkovic, and a few exquisite touches saw him easily go past Dain Greentree. He cut into the box in space however Jesse Cook saved his shot

Two minutes after the half an hour mark Magic were celebrating again. Kale Bradbury found himself in space just outside the box, and made a charge towards goal. He wrong footed his defender and calmly finished into the bottom left hand corner from just inside the box.

Two minutes later Fajkovic decided it was his turn to join the score sheet, darting past the Jets defence onto a through ball that he calmly slotted past Jesse Cook into the back of the net.

The 42nd minute was full of high fives as Magic made it 5-1. Peter Haynes played a through ball into the path of Bradbury this time, who easily evaded the Jets defence. He was eventually caught just inside the box, but faked and cut back inside, driving a cracking shot into the top right hand corner.

The Jets pulled a goal back to reduce the deficit just before half time as Michael Kantarovski scored his second in two games. The sides went into half time at 5-2, an epic first half that produced almost a goal every six minutes.

Magic hit the woodwork early in the half, however neither side could beat their respective opponent’s keeper.

Any chance of a Jets late come back looked dashed after Reece Papas headed over the bar from close range after he was the quickest to react to a loose ball after Archbold had made a prior save, and was getting back to his feet.

Archbold was called into action again in the first minute of stoppage time, pulling off a wonderful diving save from an Antonee Burke strike, and it became obvious that the second half would not produce a goal, bizarrely after seven were scored in the first half.

Both sides pushed in injury time for another goal but it did not come, Magic winning the match 5-2.

Jets keeper Jesse Cook would have been feeling hard done by considering he had no chance against the first three goals, the fourth was a one-on-one and the fifth was a rocket from close range. He was getting minimal help from his defence, and they and the midfield were turning over a lot of possession in their half. To his credit he kept a clean sheet in the second with a dominant 45 minutes.

The win takes Magic back to first place, after Hamilton and Edgeworth overtook them on Sunday. Next weekend they are at home where they welcome Weston in the Match of the Round.

The Jets remain fifth with the loss. Next Saturday they can reduce the gap between themselves and the sides ahead of them when they take on Edgeworth.




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