There was one overriding emotion for the Maitland Magpies at Cooks Square Park on Sunday after cracking their first win of a return National Premier League season.
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“Relief,” Magpies coach Reece Thompson said.
“It was just relief.”
The promoted Magpies accounted for Charlestown City Blues 3-0 and dragged themselves off the bottom of the Northern NSW Football ladder following five straight losses.
It was a much-needed injection of confidence for the Magpies ahead of facing title holders Lambton this weekend but Thompson was hopeful this result could be the start of things to come.
“The feeling in the sheds afterwards was can we build from this,” he said.
“We want to kickstart our season from here.”
Maitland striker Ben Martin opened the Magpies’ account 15 minutes in with a long-range effort.
Fellow front man Alex Read doubled the Magpies’ advantage by converting a one-on-one chance in the lead up to half-time.
Midfielder Harry Maguire then put the icing on the cake for Maitland, who were sporting custom made-jerseys as part of a Harry’s House charity fundraiser, with a cheeky finish from a Matt Comerford cross midway through the second stanza.
But even with their attack in check Thompson said he was most impressed with the Magpies’ defence.
“I’m more impressed that we kept a clean sheet,” he said.
“We have averaged almost three goals a game so not to have any against us was a positive step.”
The Magpies coach said Maitland’s best were midfield quartet Maguire, Matt Thompson, Jye McKellar and Ryan Broadley.
“They held their shape really well and got through a lot of work,” he said.
At the same time over at Rockwell Automation Park it was a different story as Robbie Turnbull’s 200th first grade game for the club didn’t receive a fairytale ending.
The Bears were beaten 3-1 by now top of the table Hamilton, after stringing together three successive wins. They slip to fourth on the competition ladder.
Former A-League player Troy Hearfield equalised for the Bears approaching the main break after Jacob Bailey put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes.
However, a second-half double to Hamilton striker Kane Goodchild, netting in the 50th and 70th minutes, proved to be the difference.
Around the grounds on Sunday and Edgeworth beat South Cardiff 3-1 at Ulinga Oval while reigning premiers Lambton and Adamstown played out a 1-all draw at Arthur Edden Oval.
In the transferred round seven fixture Broadmeadow will host Newcastle Jets Youth at Magic Park on Monday night after the game was called off on Friday.
LADDER: Hamilton 15, Edgeworth 15, Weston 13, Newcastle Jets Youth 10*, Lambton 9, Adamstown 6, South Cardiff 5, Maitland 4, Charlestown City 3
*Game in hand