REVIEW | NPL NNSW Round 5 - 2020
SPROULE SPORTS FOCUS
JAMES WARD
MATCH OF THE ROUND
LAMBTON JAFFAS 2-3 BROADMEADOW MAGIC
Lambton and Broadmeadow played out a five-goal thriller with Magic stealing the points with a stunning last-minute winner at Arthur Edden Oval on Saturday.
New Broadmeadow signing Sebastian Burich Lillo scored a memorable debut goal to notch the 90th minute clincher and seal an unforgettable victory for the red and yellow.
It was an even contest in the first half as both defences held strong, while the match pitted two of the most electrifying attacking line-ups against each other.
The match would spring into life in the second half with veteran Magician John Majurovski heading home the first goal in the 61st minute after a superb ball from youngster Jarred Baker.
Lambton would hit-back though, taking the lead with two quick-fire goals with the first coming through Luke Remington in the 67th minute after terrific build-up play while marksman Scott Pettit made it two shortly after.
The Jaffas look destined to hold on for a home win but it was Magic who turned the tide with two quick goals of their own before the full-time whistle.
Sam Walker scored in the 87th minute off a pinpoint Jacob Dowse cross before Mitch Rooke clipped a ball into the box and the Brazilian Lillo produced the game-winning moment.
The result moves Broadmeadow into outright second, five points ahead of third place and one win away from leaders Edgeworth, with the victory Magic’s fourth from a possible five.
The Jaffas will be left reeling after conceding another late goal to suffer their second loss of the season, while they will aim to bounce-back in a tough away trip to Maitland next round.
LAKE MACQUARIE CITY 0-3 EDGEWORTH EAGLES
Edgeworth have kept their unbeaten start to the 2020 season going with a dominant 3-0 victory over Lake Macquarie at Macquarie Field on Sunday.
The Eagles set the tone in the first half to score three goals and build an unassailable lead.
Kristian Brymora got the Eagles on the scoreboard first with a header which hit the post and goalkeeper Stuart Plant before bundling into the goal.
Dylan Holz made it two with a devastating strike inside the box in the 32nd minute before Pat Wheeler rounded off the first-half scoring with a header off a corner in the 40th.
The victory makes it five from five for the Eagles and keeps them three points above Broadmeadow in first and seven points above third.
Interim-coach Josh Rose now has two wins in a row in his new role while the side will look to continue their scintillating run of form against Weston next round.
Lake Macquarie have had a mixed week with a win, a draw and a loss but will be looking to build on their points tally and cause a potential upset over Broadmeadow in round six.
WESTON WORKERS 1-2 CHARLESTOWN AZZURRI
Charlestown have pulled off an immense first win of the season to down Weston at the home of the Bears after being reduced to nine-men in the final 10 minutes of the game on Sunday.
Weston scored first with captain Nathan Morris converting a penalty in the 24th minute to put the home side into the lead.
However, Charlestown weren’t going to lie down and it was Regan Lundy who scored Azzurri’s first against his old team beating Weston keeper Scott Carter to the ball on the edge of the 18-yard-box.
Riley Smith put Azzurri into the lead with a composed finish to place Charlestown on the road to victory.
Azzurri were left to battle to the end with Jackson Frendo and Lundy receiving red cards for second bookings but the determined side wouldn’t be denied their maiden win of the campaign.
The hugely spirited performance will be a huge confidence boost to the outfit while coach Graham Law said he was extremely proud of his players
“It’s more for the belief of players as, apart from the Lakes games, the three games we lost we honestly could have won all three so it’s installing the belief into our young players,” Law said.
“It was the Azzurri old guard that got us home like [Nathan] Archibald, Kev Davison, Matt Tull and Rene Ferguson really showed why they’re still playing at the highest level.
“The two send-offs, they’re not aggressive or bad red cards. They’re just young, naïve tackles in the wrong areas of the park so they’ll learn from that.”
“It was great for Regan [Lundy] and Rliey [Smith] to score because their general play has been deserving of goals and our shape was so good with nine men, so I’m really proud of the squad.”
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