By Blake Jarrett

Weston Workers FC 0 def. by Lambton Jaffas FC 2
3.00pm
1st Grade

Goals, crucial saves, lung-busting runs, yellow cards, a red card, and over four thousand fans creating an electric atmosphere. It’s everything and more a Grand Final could ask for, and that’s exactly what Jack McLaughlan Oval got yesterday as Lambton Jaffas took on the Weston Workers.

Weston finished the season in second place after nine wins, two behind leaders, the Newcastle Jets. Their opponents, the Jaffas, finished in third place, two points behind the Bears, after nine wins also.

Weston’s Jason Cowburn had a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring, however he air-swung a shot, unmarked from inside the eighteen yard box in the opening minute.

In the ninth minute Michael Sessions tried his luck from outside the eighteen yard box with a curling attempt, however Weston keeper Tim Pratt was up to the task.

Two minutes later Sessions assisted the first goal, curling in a corner from the left hand side which Jobe Wheelhouse met with his head, guiding the ball into the back of the net.

The Jaffas doubled their lead in the twenty-seventh minute. Pratt saved a Wheelhouse strike, but was unable to hold it, and Riley McNaughton came steaming in to smash the ball into the back of the net.

Several Jason Cowburn volleys that missed the target, and a Nathan Morris free kick blocked by the wall were Weston’s best chances of the half and the Jaffas took the 2-0 lead into the break.

Bears coach Steve Piggott replaced Jamie Subat with Jye McKellar at half time, and this nearly paid off after just five minutes. McKellar found himself free on the edge of the eighteen yard box, however his shot was straight at Danny Ireland.

In the sixty-fourth minute, a head clash between Rob Macbeth and McNaughton threatened to reduce the Bears, who had made all three substitutions, to ten men, however both men returned to the field following treatment.

Kale Bradbery and Alex Palozzi had perfect chances to triple their side’s lead at the back end of the game, however Pratt made two more brilliant saves.

Just as the fourth official signaled four minutes of added time Weston were reduced to ten as Connor Evans struck Michael Lawrence with an elbow.

That was the final talking point of the match which finished 2-0 to the Jaffas who become Grand Final winners in their second season in Newcastle’s Premier competition.

The sides were two of the best all year. They should be congratulated for great seasons, as well as for an intriguing final.

Congratulations also to Jobe Wheelhouse who picked up the David Williams medal for Player of the Match.

 

 

Hamilton Olympic FC 2 def. Newcastle Jets Youth 0
1.00pm
22 Years

The second of the day’s three matches saw Hamilton looking for redemption against the Jets after the Under 19s loss in the previous fixture.

In this competition Olympic dominated, and were the best side all season, winning the Premiership by eight points. The Newcastle Jets Youth were their closest rivals, finishing second.

The match started rather sloppily, with both sides struggling to find their groove. Hamilton looked to be only just coping with the pace of Luke Willard and Charlie Horsley, the Jets’ two wide players, and their day went from bad to worse when defender and captain Luke Rutledge received his marching orders in the eighteenth minute for pulling back Willard who was away on goal.

Coach Neil Owens responded brilliantly, changing to a 4-4-1 formation, and the side adapted extremely well.

The match did not improve before half time, with scoring opportunities rather scarce, and both sides turning over a lot of ball.

They went into half time locked at 0-0, and it was quite evident that the side that settled first in the second half, and took their chances, would win this affair. 

Again, the second half was rather scrappy, with both sides limited in their scoring opportunities. Both sides’ defences were extremely strong, and Hamilton’s keeper Josh Cox, and well as Jets’ Nick Hartnett had certainly brought the best games of the season.

It took sixty-eight minutes for the first goal. A stray Marcus Duncan header fell to Tynan Wingrove, who burst into the box. Jets left back Dain Greentree fouled Wingrove on his way to goal, and Hamilton were awarded a penalty, which Cody Higgs blasted into the top right hand corner.

The ten man Olympic side were holding on desperately for the next ten minutes, however some Ben Koina brilliance, and Alex Tserepas speed and composure sealed the game. Koina made a twenty-five metre run to dispossess Cody Carroll, before sending a pin-point fifty metre through ball into the path of Tserepas, who volleyed over Nick Hartnett to ensure Hamilton would complete the double.

It was an amazing win by a side that played majority of the game with ten men, exemplifying what team spirit and determination is all about.

Both sides should be commended on super seasons. Congratulations to Hamilton, 2014 Premiers/Grand Final winners.

 

Under 16 Emerging Jets 1 (5) def. Hamilton Olympic FC 1 (4) - Penalties
11.00am
19 Years

The opening match of the day was an absolute cracker, which saw goals either side of half time, and a nail-biting penalty shootout.

The Premiers, the Under 16 Emerging Jets, won the competition by an amazing seven points. Hamilton Olympic finished eight points short of the Premiers, finishing in third position.

The Under 16 Emerging Jets were the first to find their rhythm in the match, however Hamilton did as well soon after, creating a wonderful game of football.

The crowd only had to wait twenty-one minutes for the game’s first goal, as Kristian Brymora picked up a stray ball just outside the eighteen yard box, and slotted it into the bottom right hand corner.

For the remainder of the half Brymora looked extremely dangerous, as did Hamilton’s wide-men Ethan Reay and Nick Patsan.

Neither side could add to the score sheet, and the Jets took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Four minutes after half time Hamilton struck. After an ordinary first half, striker Johnny Nicholson came out to prove a point, and after receiving a perfect pass from Reay and beating a defender, he drove a strike into the bottom left hand corner.

For the remainder of the half both sides desperately attacked, trying to force a winner, however Jets defender Reece Pettit, and Hamilton defender Rhys Higgs each stood up for their sides, keeping their opponents goalless.

With two minutes remaining, a quick counter attack sparked by Hamilton keeper Remy Rey-Lescure saw substitute Louis Townsend away down the left hand side. Jets keeper Jez Murray was the last line of defence, and danger arose as he fouled Townsend. Luckily for he and his side he was only awarded a yellow card. 

Neither side could break the 1-1 deadlock, and the match was forced into a penalty shootout.

The shootout was an intriguing affair, with both keepers earning well-deserved hero status for their roles. Rey-Lescure scored the pick of the bunch and made two saves. Murray was the winner of the day however, making three saves, and scoring the winning penalty. 

It was an amazing end to an eventful game, which was a brilliant opening to a day with so much promise.

Congratulations to both sides on successful 2014 seasons, in particular the Under 16 Emerging Jets who are the 2014 Premiers/Grand Final Winners.