The Weston Bears forged ahead with their fourth round National Premier League fixture despite the wet conditions, but to no avail.
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The Bears were defeated 1-0 by Newcastle Jets Youth at a waterlogged Rockwell Automation Park on Saturday afternoon.
The game was played in driving rain and was the sole match to go ahead in the Northern NSW top flight competition during the weekend.
“It belted down,” Bears coach Trevor Morris said. “We got through 19s and 22s all right [in the lead up], but by the time it got to firsts it was waterlogged.
“It was tough work out there and the boys were more like mud runners than anything else.”
Morris said Jets Youth probably handled the tough track better than his squad, but the effort from Weston was evident throughout the game.
“I haven’t got too much to complain about,” Morris said.
“I think they handled the conditions better than us with their passing and ball movement.
“But I can’t question our effort or spirit because they hung on and were desperate until the end – you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Scores were level at the break, but the Jets went ahead eight minutes into the second half.
The Bears had multiple chances to equalise, but couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net.
“We created our share of chances and could have got something out of it, but we missed them,” Morris said.
“There was a header from close rang that went over the bar, two blokes going for a diving header where they went over the line, but the ball stayed in the water and another couple near the end.
“But we were right in it for the whole time.”
Morris said Carl Thornton and Wilson Edwards were the best for the Bears in a losing side, while Troy Hearfield had an off day.
The Maitland Magpies fixture with the Edgeworth Eagles set down for Jack McLaughlin Oval on Friday night was cancelled with an alternative date for the clash yet to be set.
The Magpies already have a catch-up game with Newcastle Jets Youth to play at home on Tuesday night.
The following night the Bears travel to Ulinga Oval to play South Cardiff after their game from the Anzac Day weekend was also postponed.
Following the mid-week commitments Maitland and Weston will square off at Cooks Square Park on Sunday in what will be their first local derby in more than a decade.
