The Maitland Magpies have continued their charge towards a top four spot in the NPL with a comprehensive 6-1 thumping of the Newcastle Jets Youth at a rain-soaked Cooks Square Park on Sunday afternoon.
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The Magpies put the junior Jets to the sword early, as Josh Dutton-Black curled a free-kick in off the post in the ninth minute to open the scoring.
Maitland made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute when Chris Fayers scored on his debut for the Magpies, as he produced a composed finish across the Jets goalkeeper from a Matt Comerford through ball which sliced the Jets defence open.
Comerford went from provider to goal-scorer just five minutes later, making it 3-0 with a finish into the bottom corner after a one-two on the edge of the box with Dutton-Black.
Striker Mark Moric almost pulled one back for the Jets early in the second half, but saw a shot cleared off the line by Liam Thornton, then had a header saved by Matt Trott.
Thornton then got in among the goals as he rose highest to head home a Comerford corner kick in the 64th minute to make it 4-0.
Not to be outdone was Liam’s brother Carl, who extended the lead to five, just two minutes later with a contender for goal of the season.
The Magpies captain smashed an unstoppable volley from outside the box and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Substitute Ben Martin went close with a header in the 73rd minute, but would not be denied a place on the scoresheet.
Less than a minute later, the striker produced a clinical finish into the far bottom corner to make it 6-0 after being put through on goal by fellow substitute Jordan Elphick.
Almost immediately, the Jets did pull one back in the 75th minute with one of the best goals of the afternoon.
Jets substitute Rhyan Smith found the top corner of the goal with a fierce left footed strike from the edge of the box, to deny Trott a clean sheet.
That was as good as it got for the Jets Youth, as Phil Dando’s men recorded their second biggest victory of the season, to keep pace with Hamilton Olympic who sit in fourth spot, and lead the Magpies by a solitary point.
The Magpies face off next Sunday against Olympic at Darling Street Oval, with kickoff at 2.30pm.
Meanwhile, Lambton, minus five regulars headed by Jobe Wheelhouse and Joel Griffiths, out-classed the Bears. Ryan Griffiths scored a penalty and whipped in a cross which led to an own goal as the Jaffas opened a 3-0 lead at the break.
“It was probably our best performance of the season,” coach James Pascoe said.
