Weston’s unbeaten start to their Northern NSW NPL campaign continued with a 2-1 win at Lambton Jaffas on Friday despite an outstanding performance from Jaffas keeper Daniel Ireland.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bears coach Steve Piggott had lamented his side’s wasteful finishing in their 0-0 draw at Broadmeadow a week earlier, but they appeared sharper early on at Edden Oval.
They opened their account after just eight minutes when Jason Cowburn was allowed to jump unopposed to head home inside the six-yard box from Liam Thornton’s cross.
As the first half unfolded Cowburn and number 10 Connor Evans consistently troubled Lambton’s shaky defence, linking well with debutant Tom Sparre and Jamie Subat on the flanks.
For all Weston’s dominance, however, they failed to add to their 1-0 lead thanks to a string of saves from Ireland in the Jaffas goal.
While he acknowledged the efforts of Ireland, Piggott was again left frustrated at his side’s inability to convert chances.
“We didn’t get the finished product again today; we had numerous chances in both halves,” he said.
“Danny Ireland, if it wasn’t three it was maybe four good one-on-one saves – he’s a good keeper.”
In the second stanza Cowburn, Evans and Subat all tried, and failed, to breach the Lambton goal and in the 66th minute it looked as if they would be made to pay.
From a clever John Majurovski flick-on Jaffas skipper Jobe Wheelhouse powerfully drove home past Bears shot-stopper Tim Pratt, and with that scores were level.
Parity would last only four minutes.
After replacing Cowburn, substitute Jye McKellar defied the heavy conditions down the left touchline and drove into the box before being dragged down by Michael Sessions.
In the absence of regular dead-ball specialist Nathan Morris, Subat showed his experience to send Ireland the wrong way from the penalty spot and score what proved the decisive goal.
Pratt was forced into several desperate saves late in the game, and substitute Brock Oakley lunged in to deny Luke Remington from close range, but in the end Weston hung on.
Since arriving at the club, Piggott has looked to bring in youth at every opportunity and his introduction of McKellar paid dividends against Lambton.
“I thought Jye McKellar in the second half really got at Tommy Smart and got in behind their defence, and that’s what we need to keep doing,” he said.
“It was a super effort for a young guy on the heavy side and he showed he’s got talent and pace and drives inside, and you can’t ask for any more than that.
“I thought Jye, Brock Oakley and Tommy Sparre all had an effect on the game, and that’s what we’re happy about.”
But ahead of next Sunday’s match-up with Hamilton Olympic at Rockwell Automation Park, not everything is rosy for the Bears.
Piggott indicated that Morris would still be a number of weeks away with a quadriceps injury, Cowburn had to be withdrawn on the hour with a back complaint and there were a number of other minor injury concerns.
Elsewhere in round three of the NPL, Edgeworth savaged a depleted Charlestown City 7-0 and Newcastle Jets Youth edged out Broadmeadow Magic 1-0.
The round wraps up this afternoon with Hamilton hosting Lake Macquarie and Adamstown hosting South Cardiff, with both matches kicking off at 2.45pm.