By Mat Fox

Lambton Jaffas FC 2-0 Newcastle Jets Youth

Two second half goals gave the Jaffas a vital home win after hitting the woodwork twice in the opening forty five minutes and having a number of other close chances. 

Alex Palozzi had a chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot after Luke Remington was brought down on the edge of the area but his shot cannoned back off the upright on 15 minutes after Lambton made a positive start. 

Newcastle Jets Youth were then forced to clear Kevin Davison’s header off the line on 35 minutes after both sides created half chances inside the penalty area prior to that. 

Palozzi hit another thundering strike toward goal this time from a free kick from over 35 yards out which again bounced back off the upright during stoppage time in the first half. 

The home side didn’t have to wait long after the break to take the lead and John Majurovski found the bottom corner in a congested penalty area on 52 minutes. 

Less than a minute later and Luke Remington looked all odds to double Lambton’s lead with a powerful strike but a brilliant diving save from the Newcastle Jets Youth goalkeeper kept them out. 

The three points were confirmed ten minutes from full time when second half substitute Tom Smart headed home from a corner to give Lambton Jaffas a well deserved 2-0 win.  

The win moves Lambton Jaffas into fourth spot with their third win of the season still with a game in hand against Broadmeadow Magic; while the loss sees Newcastle Jets Youth relinquish top spot on goal difference to Edgeworth Eagles. 

Newcastle Jets Youth created chances and played well but Lambton Jaffas deserved the win and carved out the better opportunities on the day. 

Peter McPherson was exceptional in the middle of the park for the home side once again with Luke Remington causing his former team trouble down the left hand side in the opening forty five minutes. 

Newcastle Jets Youth will face Hamilton Olympic on Saturday while Lambton Jaffas is away to South Cardiff on Sunday with a possible rescheduled midweek match against Broadmeadow beforehand. 

Hamilton Olympic FC 1-0 Adamstown Rosebud FC 

Hamilton Olympic held on for all three points at home with a 1-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud at Darling Street Oval on Sunday. 

James Monie broke the deadlock in just the third minute to give the home side an early lead, and that’s how it stayed with either side unable to add to the score for the remainder of proceedings. 

Monie was on hand to send home Rhys Cooper’s initial effort at the front post after Adamstown goalkeeper Scott Carter did well to make the initial save. 

Carter was in the thick of the action and was forced to tip Tom Davies cross over the bar diving back awkwardly after it took a deflection.

Cooper looked destined to double the home side’s advantage getting on the end of a cross at the near post but Carter again did well to deny a second goal.  

The second half opened up and Adamstown Rosebud created some good chances themselves with Hamilton goalkeeper Brad Swancott forced to make a number of saves to prevent an equaliser. 

Carter again provided a reflex save as David Hodgson volleyed from close range late in the game but his shot was tipped away for a corner. 

1-0 is how it stayed as Hamilton Olympic recorded their fourth win of the season and remain third on the ladder while Adamstown moves just two points in front of bottom place Lake Macquarie City after they recorded a win on the weekend.  

Hamilton Olympic returns to Darling Street Oval on Saturday to face Newcastle Jets Youth while Adamstown Rosebud will host Edgeworth Eagles at Adamstown Oval on Sunday. 

Edgeworth FC 4-1 Broadmeadow Magic FC 

Edgeworth Eagles proved too good at home defeating Broadmeadow Magic 4-1 at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Sunday. 

With the scores locked at 1-1 going into the second half it was three unanswered goals from Edgeworth that gave them a comfortable win at home. 

Jesse Krncevic opened the scoring for the home side to give them a 1-0 lead before Broadmeadow Magic responded late in the half through Chris Berlin to level the scores going into the half time break. 

Bren Abbott-Hammel added the third to give his side the advantage and bagged his double with the final goal to confirm a convincing win. 

The loss was Broadmeadow’s fourth out of their opening seven games and leaves them just two points off bottom spot with a crucial catch up game in hand against Lambton Jaffas. 

 Edgeworth Coach Gary Wilson said “we had a really good first half and just stayed positive at the break after they equalised and we just got on with it in the second, we really took it to them and looked a bit fresher than they did.” 

Edgeworth returns to the top of the table on goal difference with Newcastle Jets Youth level on points after they went down to Lambton Jaffas.  

Edgeworth is away to Adamstown next week while Broadmeadow hosts Lake Macquarie City on Sunday. 

Lake Macquarie City FC 3-1 Charlestown City Blues FC 

Lake Macquarie City recorded its first win of the season with an impressive 3-1 win over Charlestown City Blues at Macquarie Field on Sunday. 

With a 1-0 lead at half time, the home side raced to a 3-0 lead before a late Scott Smith consolidation goal made it 3-1 at full time, and gives Lake Macquarie City some hope in the competition. 

Dave Field opened the scoring for Lake Macquarie City late in the first half giving the home side their first lead going into a half time break. 

Tom Walker made it 2-0 in the 60th minute before Curtis Schumann made it 3-0 just ten minutes later.  

Scott Smith replied moments later with a nicely timed header but the home side couldn’t stage a late come back as it finished 3-1. 

Lake Macquarie City Coach Gary Rowe said “it went according to plan for us; we did pretty well in the first half and led for the first time all season which gave us a different approach at half time.” 

“We were due for one (a win) and they gave 90 minutes today, we have played well for 45 here and 10 there which isn’t good enough at this level but today was validation for what we have been working on.”  

Lake Macquarie City faces Broadmeadow Magic next Sunday while Charlestown City Blues welcomes Weston Workers to Lisle Carr Oval. 

Weston Workers FC 0-1 South Cardiff FC 

South Cardiff recorded an impressive away win over Weston Workers with a 1-0 victory at Rockwell Automation Park on Sunday. 

It was a game of two halves as South Cardiff peppered the Weston goal and really deserved more than just the one goal advantage going into the break.  

Weston Workers came out strong in the second and really could have got an equaliser with a number of chances especially from set pieces but couldn’t get the final touch and South Cardiff goalkeeper Michael Stafford made a number of good saves. 

Sean Clerke’s goal was the difference with a great left footed strike from just outside the area bending around and over Tim Pratt in the Weston goal to open the scoring. 

Clerke was influential in the first half and linked up well with James Byrnes who had a number of good opportunities early on and saw his shot bounce back off the underside of the cross bar but not enough over the goal line for the referee to give a goal. 

Clerke was subbed off at half time which could only be due to injury after a great first half, and Byrnes lacked the support he needed upfront as Weston dealt comfortably with most of Southy’s progress forward in the second half. 

Connor Evans and Nathan Morris started to control the midfield early in the second half for Weston Workers but an injury to Brock Oakley forced Morris in to backline and he could only be influential from set pieces from then on. 

It was from corners and free kicks that Weston came close with several opportunities just needing a touch at the back post.

Weston Workers is now without a win in four matches and is away to Charlestown City Blues next week while South Cardiff is at home to Lambton Jaffas.