The Weston Bears held on to claim a 3-2 qualifying semi-final victory against the Lambton Jaffas yesterday and move within one win of the 2014 Northern NSW National Premier League decider.
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A three-goal lead was almost squandered in the second half, but proved to be just enough for the Bears at Rockwell Automation Park as they set up another showdown with the Newcastle Jets Youth.
It was only a fortnight ago the Bears and Jets fought it out for the minor premiership, but this Sunday at the same venue it will be a grand final appearance on the line.
However, the Bears will go into the clash wounded, with a handful of players injured and others on yellow cards.
Bears first goal scorer Jye McKellar (knee), defender Liam Thornton (hamstring), goalkeeper Tim Pratt (quad) and 200-game veteran Nathan Morris (quad) all pulled up sore after yesterday’s fixture, while Robbie Turnbull (quad) didn’t take the field, but was expected to return this weekend.
The Bears other two goal scorers Jason Cowburn and Garry McDermott received yellow cards and face a week on the sidelines if warned again in the finals series, while striker Jamie Subat will be available after missing yesterday because of suspension.
Bears coach Steve Piggott said he would assess all the damage at training on Wednesday, but the main thing was getting across the line.
“You can’t win pretty all the team and in the end it was good character building for the boys,” he said.
“Being up 3-0 15 minutes into the second half we probably should have gone on with it, but we had to fight for it.”
McKellar opened the Bears’ account 15 minutes in, with Cowburn and McDermott following suit to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
The Jaffas then hit back in the second stanza, courtesy of Jobe Wheelhouse and John Majurovski, to make for a nervous final quarter, but the visitors couldn’t reel in the deficit.
Lambton now play Charlestown City in this weekend’s minor semi-final after the Blues beat Edgeworth 2-1 in yesterday’s elimination semi-final.
Piggott said Connor Evans, Brock Oakley and Pratt were best for the Bears.
In other football news the recently promoted Maitland Magpies beat the Thornton Redbacks 4-0 at Thornton on Saturday in the first leg of their First Division semi-final series which concludes at Cooks Square Park this Sunday.