Hamilton Olympic and Lambton Jaffas played out yet another nail-biting contest in the ‘Match of the Round’ in the PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW on Sunday.
Hamilton Olympic 2 (Cooper 33’, Goodchild 57’) drew with Lambton Jaffas 2 (Hay 2’, Davidson 45’)
Darling Street Oval
Sunday 3rd July, 2.30pm
Hamilton’s run of draws continued, now with three in their last four matches, which has seen them drop further behind Edgeworth who are now three points clear at the top of the ladder.
It was the Jaffas who jumped out of the blocks early when a Rhys Tippett throw was nodded on by John Majurovski to Ben Hay who finished from the left side of the box on the angle. The defence from Hamilton was uncharacteristically soft after just two minutes.
Hamilton were soon back level though, when Tommy Spencer played a long ball over the back of the Jaffas backline on a Hamilton counter attack. Michael Williams pulled up with a severe hamstring injured and all Rhys Cooper need to do was beat Brad Swancott from the left edge of the box – which he did to make it 1-1.
Then a hammer blow right before the break. After a Lambton corner and a couple of ricocheted shots, the ball fell for Kevin Davidson on the right edge of the box. Davidson’s shot was perfect beating Danny Ireland and making it two goals in two matches for the Lambton centre back. Lambton took a 2-1 lead to the break.
Adamstown Rosebud 2 (Yaxley 58’, Berlin 70’) defeated Valentine Phoenix 0
Blacksmiths Oval
Saturday 2nd July, 3pm
The Adamstown Rosebuds continued their mid-season resurgence with a 2-0 victory over Valentine Phoenix at Blacksmiths Oval on Saturday. It was the second time this season that the Rosebuds have beaten the Phoenix by that scoreline after their 2-0 win in round three.
In a tense first half, both sides were unable to break the deadlock, as they went in locked at 0-0 at the break – as they did in round three. But as the storyline earlier in the season went, it was the Rosebuds who opened the scoring. Dayne Pawlik playing a long ball from just inside Valentine’s half on the left, finding Dan Yaxley at the back post who slid in and got a touch to roll his shot past an onrushing Beyhan Irmako.
Just 12 minutes later the Rosebuds doubled their advantage when Thom Lino played a perfect through ball, just beyond the boot of Phoenix defender Alex Burrell, allowing Chris Berlin to run through and roll a left-foot shot into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.
Broadmeadow Magic 1 (Virgili 58’(P)) defeated Weston Workers Bears 0
Magic Park
Sunday 3rd July, 2.30pm
Broadmeadow Magic went within one win of the top two with a hard-fought win against the Bears at Magic Park. For the second time this season the Bears gave Broadmeadow a real test, but a James Virgili penalty was enough for the home side to claim all three points.
The major concern after the match was for Weston defender Zac Sneddon who went to hospital with a fractured skull after a sickening collision with Magic’s Shane Paul inside the opening five minutes.
After a tight first half, both sides went into the half-time interval locked a 0-0. The result seemed to be heading for that similar to the scoreline back in round three at Weston.
Maitland Magpies 2 (M.Thompson 18’(P), 78’) defeated Charlestown City Blues 0
Lisle Carr Oval
Sunday 3rd July, 2.30pm
After five matches without a victory, Maitland are back in the winners’ circle and firmly entrenched in the top four after a confidence boosting 2-0 victory over Charlestown away from home. For the Blues, their slide down the ladder continued, as they lost their fifth straight match.
The scoring began in the 18th minute when Matt Comerford was fouled in the box by Daniel Laiman resulting in a penalty to the visitors. Matt Thompson took over from Maitland’s captain Blake Thompson from the spot and calmly put his shot in the bottom right corner – just outside the grasp of Charlestown keeper Nathan Archbold.
Edgeworth Eagles 4 (Moriyasu 9’(P), 87’(P), 90+1’, Gardner 80’) defeated Newcastle Jets Youth 2 (Waller 36’, Joice 56’)}
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 3rd July, 2.45pm
Edgeworth coach Damian Zane was gushing in praise of his young midfielder Aden Gardner who ‘became an out and out first grader this week’ after he scored the equaliser for the Eagles in an enthralling clash with the Jets Youth on Sunday. The Eagles were struggling – down 2-1 with ten minutes to play when Gardner stepped up.
CLICK HERE for a full review of Round 12.