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 QUENTIN CONNERS

 

ADAMSTOWN ROSEBUD 0 DEF. BY LAMBTON JAFFAS 1 (REMINGTON 42’)

SATURDAY 22 JUNE, 1:00 PM, ADAMSTOWN OVAL

Lambton have bounced back from a brief moment of lack in form, picking up their second victory in as many weeks by defeating Adamstown on their 130th Year celebration day.

The Jaffas took the ascendency early on in the wet conditions controlling the majority of possession, but some tough, scrambling defending from the Rosebuds kept the visitors at bay as chances for Braedyn Crowley and Michael Sessions were both snuffed out.

The first and only breakthrough of the game came for Lambton just before half-time though as a through ball was tracked down by Crowley and knocked back into the danger area to find Luke Remington who clinically volleyed it into the goal.

Chances were few and far between in the second half both sides, but the hosts went close on a couple of occasions as Connor Heydon almost linked up well with Luke Vallone on a cross that ended with no success, while in stoppage time, Finn Beasley volleyed a shot straight at Brad Swancott.

The Jaffas held on for all three points collecting a win that now sees them continue to pressure the top four while for Adamstown, they continue to linger down near the bottom of the table.

 

MAITLAND FC 3 (WOOD 23’, READ 42’, DUGGAN 90+2) DEF. WESTON BEARS 1 (WILSON 71’)

SUNDAY 23 JUNE, 2:30 PM, COOKS SQUARE PARK

It was set up to be one of the biggest ‘El Clasicoal’ derbies in history as Maitland hosted Weston in a wet, yet highly entertaining, game of football which has significantly altered the premiership race.

It was the hosts who got their revenge on the Bears after losing their earlier tussle away from home and their fantastic start to the match played a huge helping hand.

The Magpies looked focused in the early part of the match and their poise paid off as Joel Wood added a ninth goal to his scoring tally jumping on the end of a cross and Ryan Clarke header to score from close range.

Both Wood and Clarke would combine and contribute again for the second goal of the match as some nice one-touch passing football on the edge of the box ended with a cross to Alex Read who ultimately bundled it over the line to double the lead.

The league-leaders Weston didn’t roll over though and fought their way back into the contest in the second half as they took control of more of possession and it lead to a golden-chance for Cooper Buswell from close-range, but his shot was parried away by Matt Trott.

Their goal finally came later on though, courtesy of the man in electric form, Liam Wilson, who cracked in a shot from distance once again after a corner kick was headed out of the penalty area.

Having been denied on two occasions throughout the match, it looked as though it may have been third time lucky for Maitland’s James Thompson, but his shot was stopped again by Scott Carter and was then rejected a penalty shout – much to the displeasure of the home crowd.

The Magpies finally knocked in the final nail in the coffin in stoppage time as a brilliant through pass from Wood set up Tom Duggan to score the game-sealer and take home the three points in the derby.

Maitland’s coach Mick Bolch highlighted his joy after watching his side take out the victory.

“I thought we did really well today,” Bolch said.

“I thought it was one of our best performances all year.

“They [Weston] probably shaved the majority of possession, but I thought we did really well to finish our chances in the first half and then did well to hold them off in the second.”

An earlier injury forced the Magpies to switch around their squad, but Bolch said he was impressed with how his team adapted and made a special mention for his key striker, Joel Wood, who’s in brilliant form.

“We lost Tommy Davies after about 15 minutes with a head knock which caused a reshuffle,” he said.

“Ralphy [Ryan] Broadley hasn’t played in a month and the plan was just to bring him on in the last 20 minutes, but he ended up playing 75 minutes and did really well. We also had to move Alex Read out to right fullback and bring Carl back into the backline.

“We identified last year that we needed a number 9 who could hold the ball up and bring players into and score goals and he’s [Joel Wood] been outstanding. He scored one today and set the other two up.

“He’s probably on about 15 goals in around 15 games for us at the moment… He’s doing really well in that front third.

“I couldn’t be happier with what they did today.”

 

NEWCASTLE JETS YOUTH 1 (SIMMONS 30’) DEF. BY EDGEWORTH EAGLES 2 (MCBREEN 43’, SMITH 65’)

SUNDAY 23 JUNE, 2:30 PM, JACK MCLAUGHLAN OVAL

Edgeworth has returned to their winning ways after successfully coming back from a goal down to beat an impressive Jets Youth side.

The young Jets started out rapidly through the use of quick movement and passes and it almost saw Maki Petratos force a goal, however down the other end, the Eagles’ Keanu Moore troubled Noah James on two occasions as well.

The first goal of the game went the way of the Jets following some edge-of-the-box play and a smashing finish from a man who will be playing in the first team next Hyundai A-League season, Jack Simmons.

Only minutes later the youngsters almost doubled their lead as Sam Donnallan cannoned his shot into the crossbar, then, just before half-time, a man who has spent over five years in the national league, Daniel McBreen, made them pay and equalled the score with a volleying effort.

McBreen would turn into the provider in the second half, crossing a ball into the danger area and finding Oliver Smith who rose above the defenders to head home a goal to take them into the lead.

With just minutes to go, Riley Smith tried his luck to level the scores, but his shot was met with a Josh Low save to ultimately meant the Eagles who take all three points.

Edgeworth now retains their spot in the top four and following the other results from the weekend, sit just two points from the ladder-leaders.

 

LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ROOSTERS AND CHARLESTOWN CITY BLUES’ MATCH WAS ABANDONED AFTER 53 MINUTES OF PLAY DUE TO WET WEATHER AND WILL BE REPLAYED AT A LATER DATE. THE SCORE WAS 1-1.

 

VALENTINE PHOENIX HAD THE BYE.