Lambton confirmed themselves as the team to beat in 2017 after defeating the Edgeworth Eagles for the second time this season.
Match of the Round
Lambton Jaffas 2 (Remington 53’, Griffiths 69’) defeated Edgeworth Eagles 0 at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Ryan Griffiths scored in his first match in the PlayStation®4 NPL Northern NSW and played a significant role in Luke Remington’s goal as the Jaffas won 2-0.
The win should prove a major psychological boost for the Jaffas who meet the Eagles next Saturday in the Westfield FFA Cup.
The match was very much an arm-wrestle for the opening 45 minutes with neither side creating any golden chances. Returning Edgeworth striker Daniel McBreen headed wide from inside the box right on the stroke of halftime in the only real opportunity of the half.
But, in similar circumstances to last weekend Lambton came out of the sheds firing and when Ryan Griffiths curled in a pinpoint cross to brother Joel who teed up Luke Remington, the Jaffas were ahead.
Valentine Phoenix 1 (J.Brown 75’) defeated Lake Macquarie City Roosters 0 at Cahill Oval.
American sensation Jalon Brown scored his third goal in his last two PS4 NPL Northern NSW (NNSW) matches, and seventh of the season as Valentine Phoenix edged out a plucky Lake Macquarie side in the solitary round 13 match on Saturday.
Brown’s strike ensured Valentine would win their third match in a row, and solidify a spot within the top four.
The match was tight early only with both sides unable to break through in the first half. Jalon Brown had the best chance of the half, with his shot just sliding wide as he went one-on-one with Lake Macquarie keeper Benn Kelly.
The match was predicted to be a low scoring one, with both sides only conceding just over one goal on average per game.
The sides headed to the break deadlocked at 0-0, and when they returned the match continued along a similar path. That was until Matt Toohey was given his marching orders.
Hamilton Olympic 3 (Cooper 23’, Smith 25’, 74’) defeated Adamstown Rosebud 0 at Darling Street Oval.
In his first start back from injury, Rhys Cooper returned to the scoresheet at Darling Street Oval in Hamilton’s 3-0 demolition of Adamstown.
Reeling from the sacking of former coach Peter McGuinness during the week the Rosebud’s struggled against an Olympic side inspired to end their coach Michael Bolch’s final season at the club on a high.
Cooper opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after the intricate build up from Olympic. Andrew Swan played in his brother Matt down the left edge who squared to Cooper. Cooper rushed into the box and hit his shot first time, into the right post and the ball deflected in to make it 1-0.
Just two minutes later and Olympic were up by two. Cooper turned provider on this occasion curling in a cross from the right onto the head of Smith who made no mistake from point blank range.
Maitland Magpies 1 (M.Thompson 35’) drew with Charlestown City Blues 1 (Ferguson 19’) at Cooks Square Park.
Charlestown ended a two-match losing run as they drew 1-1 with Maitland at Cooks Square Park on Sunday.
Blues talisman Rene Ferguson struck again for the visiting side but was cancelled out by a Matt Thompson strike before half-time.
Charlestown controlled the opening period of the match and were rewarded in the 19th minute when Daniel Bartlett cut down the right edge and squared back to Ferguson who slid his shot low and across goal into the left corner.
Ferguson’s early strike was cancelled out just over 15 minutes later when the Blues turned the ball over inside their own half and Josh Dutton-Black found Matt Thompson on the right edge who struck his shot across goal and into the left corner.
The sides were locked at 1-1, at half-time and neither could find a winner in the second stanza.
Broadmeadow Magic 4 (Cox, Haynes, Bradbury, Fajkovic) defeated Weston Bears 1 (Thompson) at Rockwell Automation Park.
Broadmeadow Magic returned to the winners’ circle for just the second time in nine matches in round 13 of the PS4 NPL Northern NSW.
In his starting debut, Charlie Cox scoring his first goal in the top grade, and Dino Fajkovic grabbed his first of the season in the 4-1 victory.
The match remained scoreless over the opening 45 minutes until Cox struck from long range.
James Virgili’s shot from the left edge was blocked by the Bears’ Nick Thompson and fell to Cox just outside the D. Cox fired low and hard into the bottom left corner giving keeper Kane Runge no chance.
With Magic leading 1-0 at the break it took a special strike 15 minutes into the second half to draw Weston level. James Thompson darted down the left, cut inside onto his right foot and curled a wonderful strike inside Niko Giantsopoulos’ far post.
However, the lead would be short-lived as five minutes later the home side failed to deal with a Takumi Sunada corner and Peter Haynes scrambled home the bouncing ball to make it 2-1.
CLICK HERE for a full Round 13 review.